New Study Shows Major Pain Relief from TransLoc 3D™ SI Joint Fusion

TULSA, Okla. – January 07, 2026 – New hope is emerging for millions suffering from chronic lower back pain stemming from the sacroiliac (SI) joint. CornerLoc, a medical device company, has announced promising 6-month interim results from its SPARTAN clinical study, published in the December 2025 issue of the Pain Physician Journal. The data demonstrates that its TransLoc 3D™ System, a minimally invasive surgical option, provides substantial pain relief and functional improvement with a strong safety profile.

The study's findings represent a significant step forward in validating a specific surgical technique—the lateral-oblique approach—for SI joint fusion, a procedure aimed at stabilizing the joint to alleviate pain. For patients who have exhausted conservative treatments like physical therapy and injections, these results could signal a more reliable path toward reclaiming an active life.

The Overlooked Source of Chronic Back Pain

Sacroiliac joint dysfunction is often cited as the culprit in 15-30% of chronic lower back pain cases, yet it remains one of the most under-diagnosed conditions. The SI joints, located on either side of the pelvis, connect the lower spine (sacrum) to the pelvic bones (ilium) and act as critical shock absorbers. When these joints become inflamed or unstable due to arthritis, trauma, or pregnancy, the resulting pain can be debilitating, often mimicking sciatica or lumbar spine issues.

Patients frequently endure a long diagnostic journey, moving between specialists and treatments with little success. Standard of care typically begins with non-surgical options, but for many, the pain persists, severely impacting their quality of life. Surgical intervention through SI joint fusion has become an increasingly accepted option for these refractory cases. The procedure involves placing implants—typically titanium screws or bone grafts—across the joint to eliminate motion and allow the bones to fuse together. However, the effectiveness and safety of the procedure can be heavily dependent on the surgical technique and the technology used.

"The challenge in treating SI joint pain has always been achieving a stable fusion with minimal disruption to surrounding tissues," explained an independent neurosurgeon specializing in spinal disorders who was not involved in the study. "Any technology that can demonstrate reproducible, positive outcomes with a high safety margin is a welcome addition to our toolkit. The focus is shifting from just doing the fusion to doing it in the most biomechanically sound and least invasive way possible."

A Closer Look at the SPARTAN Study's Findings

The SPARTAN study is a prospective, multicenter trial, a design considered a high standard in clinical research because it gathers data from multiple institutions, reflecting real-world clinical practice. The interim analysis focused on 72 patients who had completed their 6-month follow-up after undergoing SI joint fusion with the TransLoc 3D™ System. All patients in this cohort received two 3D-printed titanium compression screws placed along a specific lateral-oblique trajectory.

The results were statistically and clinically significant. A remarkable 91.67% of patients reported improvements in both pain and function. More impressively, 70.83% achieved a pain reduction of at least 50%, a key benchmark for success in pain management trials. On average, patients experienced a 59.90% reduction in pain as measured by the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS).

Functionality, a critical measure of a treatment's real-world impact, also saw major gains. The Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), a gold-standard questionnaire that assesses how back pain affects daily activities, showed an average improvement of 49.01%. Crucially, the interim report noted zero device- or procedure-related adverse events, highlighting the procedure's favorable safety profile.

"The publication of these interim SPARTAN results represents an important step in building high-quality clinical evidence around the TransLoc 3D™ procedure and the lateral-oblique approach for SI joint fusion," said Bob Compton, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of CornerLoc™, in the company's press release. "The interim findings support a favorable safety profile alongside meaningful improvements in pain and function."

Clinical Significance and Market Implications

The market for SI joint fusion devices is a dynamic and competitive space, with several companies offering different systems and surgical approaches, including posterior and lateral techniques. In this crowded field, robust clinical data is the primary currency for gaining surgeon confidence and driving adoption. The SPARTAN study's strong interim results position CornerLoc's TransLoc 3D™ System as a formidable player.

The study's focus on the lateral-oblique approach is particularly noteworthy. Surgeons are continually evaluating the optimal trajectory to place implants for maximum stability and bone fusion. By providing strong evidence for this specific technique, the study helps build a foundation for standardizing best practices.

"What's compelling here is not just the pain scores, but the multicenter design," commented an orthopedic surgeon with expertise in spine surgery, who reviewed the study's abstract. "When you see consistent results from different surgeons in different settings, it suggests the procedure and the device are not overly dependent on a single 'master' surgeon. It points toward a technology that can be broadly adopted with predictable outcomes, which is exactly what the clinical community needs to see."

As healthcare systems place greater emphasis on value-based care, technologies that demonstrate both clinical efficacy and safety are more likely to gain favorable reimbursement and be integrated into treatment pathways. These positive interim results could accelerate that process for the TransLoc 3D™ System. The study is ongoing and will continue to follow patients for a total of 12 months, with the final data expected to further solidify the long-term durability and safety of the procedure.