biostudies-literatureUnknown10(6)Ponten M<h4>Introduction</h4>Contrasting active treatment against a placebo has long been the gold standard in clinical medicine. The possible impact of placebo responses in surgery has recently been investigated using sham surgery. Despite indications that both genuine and placebo surgeries may lead to positive outcomes, no investigation into the differential routes to improvement has been performed.<h4>Objectives</h4>To assess the mechanisms involved in improvements seen in patients with sacroiliac joint pain who undergo genuine or placebo surgery.<h4>Methods</h4>This randomized controlled trial incorporated both subjective and objective assessments, including functional magnetic resonance imaging and experimental pain testing, at baseline and 6-month follow-up in a surgical trial including patiPain reportse1340https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12503142biostudies-literatureComparing genuine and sham surgery for sacroiliac joint pain using self-assessments, pain testing, and neuroimaging.PMC12503142Jensen KPonten MBlome SGerdhem PVadenmark VLalouni MKaptchuk TJThompson WHfalseComparing genuine and sham surgery for sacroiliac joint pain using self-assessments, pain testing, and neuroimaging.<h4>Introduction</h4>Contrasting active treatment against a placebo has long been the gold standard in clinical medicine. The possible impact of placebo responses in surgery has recently been investigated using sham surgery. Despite indications that both genuine and placebo surgeries may lead to positive outcomes, no investigation into the differential routes to improvement has been performed.<h4>Objectives</h4>To assess the mechanisms involved in improvements seen in patients with sacroiliac joint pain who undergo genuine or placebo surgery.<h4>Methods</h4>This randomized controlled trial incorporated both subjective and objective assessments, including functional magnetic resonance imaging and experimental pain testing, at baseline and 6-month follow-up in a surgical trial including pati2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Dec2026-06-04T07:39:49.625Z2026-06-01T03:06:09.427ZS-EPMC125031424106446710.1097/PR9.0000000000001340