Posttraumatic coccygeal instability

Spine J. 2006 Sep-Oct;6(5):544-9. doi: 10.1016/j.spinee.2005.12.004. Epub 2006 Jul 26.

Abstract

Purpose: To report the middle term results of partial coccygectomy in a consecutive series of 15 patients with chronic coccygodynia.

Methods: Fifteen patients with chronic coccygodynia were referred to our outpatient clinics. The patients were investigated with dynamic lateral radiography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We diagnosed a posttraumatic coccygodynia with instability of the coccygeal segment and performed a partial coccygectomy after failure of the conservative treatment.

Results: All patients underwent subjective and objective assessment after a mean time of 2.8 years from surgery. There were 11 excellent, 3 good, and 1 fair results. The mean time of improvement was 15 weeks, and no further improvement was observed after 6 months.

Conclusion: Partial coccygectomy is a good therapeutic option for posttraumatic coccygodynia. Dynamic radiography is a useful tool to differentiate posttraumatic from idiopathic coccygodynia. MRI may be useful for further evaluation of the patients after inconclusive dynamic radiography.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Algorithms
  • Coccyx / diagnostic imaging
  • Coccyx / injuries*
  • Coccyx / surgery*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Joint Instability / diagnostic imaging
  • Joint Instability / etiology
  • Joint Instability / surgery*
  • Low Back Pain / diagnostic imaging
  • Low Back Pain / etiology
  • Low Back Pain / surgery*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Satisfaction
  • Radiography
  • Sacrococcygeal Region
  • Treatment Outcome