A Tale of Pseudo Tail

Abstract

A case report. To report on an interesting case of a symptomatic human pseudo tail in a 7-year-old girl, who had a lordotic deformity of the coccyx due to partial segmentation. Caudal appendages are uncommon congenital malformations classified into two categories, true tails and pseudo tails, usually treated by surgical resection. Protrusion of the coccygeal vertebrae is considered the most common cause of pseudo tail. Summary of the surgical management, as well as an x-ray film of the coccyx 8 years postoperatively, is presented. Total resection of the coccyx was successfully performed and all preoperative complaints of the patient were resolved shortly after the surgery. Follow-up 8 years later revealed regrowth of a small coccygeal bone, in normal alignment. Segmentation failure of the coccyx vertebrae may lead to an abnormal position of the coccyx that may interfere with daily life and therefore require coccygectomy. A newly developed coccygeal bone, in normal alignment, may be present at site after several years.