Coccygectomy as a Surgical Option in the Treatment of Chronic Traumatic Coccygodynia: A Single-Center Experience and Literature Review

ABSTRACT

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. PURPOSE: Trauma is the most common cause for chronic coccygodynia. The present study aims at presenting our results after complete removal of the coccyx for refractory traumatic coccygodynia in terms of pain level, complication rates, and patients' overall satisfaction. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE There is limited extant literature describing the success rate and complications in refractory isolated traumatic coccygodynia. METHODS: From January 2011 to January 2012, 10 consecutive patients with posttraumatic coccygodynia (six males and four females; mean age, 42 years) were enrolled in our study. Conservative treatment of the condition had failed in all patients. The same surgeon performed a complete coccygectomy on all patients. Postoperative outcomes included measurements of pain relief and degree of patient satisfaction with the procedure's results. RESULTS: In our selected cohort, all patients indicated complete pain relief or significant pain improvement in follow up-care and would recommend this procedure. One patient developed a subcutaneous hematoma that required surgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that complete removal of the coccyx relieves pain in patients with refractory chronic traumatic coccygodyniaand is therefore a reasonable treatment option after conservative treatment failure.