[Coccygectomy in the treatment of coccygodynia].
OBJECTIVE
Excision of the coccyx for the treatment of therapy-resistant coccygodynia is a disputable management option. Due to the low morbidity only few studies concerning the long-term follow-up after coccygectomy exist. The aim of this study is a retrospective analysis of our patients surgically managed for coccygodynia and a critical review of the results obtained in comparison to the literature.


METHODS
12 patients with complete radiographic and clinical data were included in the study. The average age of patients at the time of surgery was 43.3 years (11 - 75 years). The average follow-up was 9.8 years (2 - 16 years). As suggested by Hambly (1989) the clinical result was assessed according to postoperative pain status and subjective patient satisfaction.


RESULTS
9 of 12 patients regarded the surgical intervention as a success and claimed that they would repeat the procedure (75 %). Three patients did not show marked improvement after coccygectomy. All patients (n = 6) surgically managed for traumatically induced coccygodynia had a positive result, while only 3/6 patients treated for idiopathic coccygodynia reported that symptoms were postoperatively reduced.


CONCLUSIONS
According to our results and review of those documented in the literature, excision of the coccyx for the treatment of coccygodynia, after all conservative treatment options have been exhausted, seems a justifiable alternative. Patients with a history suggestive of traumatically induced coccygodynia are more likely to benefit from coccygectomy.
Pennekamp
P H
PH
Klinik und Poliklinik für Orthopädie, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn. peter.pennekamp@uni-bonn.de
Kraft
C N
CN
Wallny
T
T
Schmitt
O
O
Diedrich
O
O
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D003050:Coccyx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010346:Patient Care Management / Q000379:methods; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017211:Treatment Failure; D016896:Treatment Outcome