Epidemiological study on postpartum osteitis condensans ilii and efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for treating this disease

Objective: We aimed to conduct an epidemiological study on osteitis condensans ilii (OCI) during the postpartum period and investigate the efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for treating this disease. Methods: A total of 560 women who had child delivery in Binzhou People's Hospital were selected as subjects. Of them, 68 women with postpartum OCI were randomized to either the study group or the control group of 34 cases each. Patients in the control group were given usual treatment, whereas patients in the study group underwent ESWT. Epidemiologic features of OCI in these women were analyzed, and the efficacy and safety of the treatment were investigated. A three-month follow up was conducted to compare patient satisfaction between the groups. Results: The incidence rate of OCI among 560 subjects was 12.14% (68 cases). The lesion was unilateral in 43 women (63.24%) and bilateral in 25 women (36.76%). The total effective rate in the study group was higher than that in the control group (P=0.026). After treatment, both groups exhibited improved results assessed by Visual Analogue Scale and Japan Orthopaedic Association scores (all P<0.05), but the improvements in the study group were greater than those in the control group (P<0.001, P=0.032); also, the study group showed greater remission rates of symptoms than the control group (all P<0.05). Meanwhile, occasional mild adverse reactions occurred similarly in the two groups (all P>0.05). After a three-month follow-up, we found a higher patient satisfaction rate in the study group than in the control group (P=0.032). Conclusion: OCI has a high prevalence in women during postpartum period. ESWT, which can achieve good treatment outcome, can serve as a safe and reliable method for treating women with this disease.