Acute traumatic instability of the coccyx: results in 28 consecutive coccygectomies

Abstract

Coccygeal instability includes hypermobility, subluxation and fracture-dislocation. Surgical resection is still controversial, with intractable post-traumatic coccygodynia being an indication to surgery. From 2001 to 2010, we enrolled 31 patients with post-traumatic coccygodynia (19 females, 12 males; mean age 31 years, range 21-47). Conservative treatment failed in 28 patients, who underwent surgical resection of the coccyx. Twenty-one were total, while seven were partial coccygectomies. At follow-up (mean 33 months; range 24-70), clinical outcomes evaluation included measurement of complications rate, pain relief and satisfaction degree. Nineteen patients experienced complete pain relief, while two had incomplete, and four had no relief. Partial coccygectomies were associated with poor results. Twenty-one patients were satisfied, whilst four were not. Coccygectomy is the treatment of choice for post-traumatic instability. Patients' selection allowed excellent or good results. This study favors a more aggressive approach including total resection of the coccyx.