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· DOS Abstracts
Coccydynia, Outcome 1 year after surgical treat-
ment of 138 consecutive patients.
Ane Simony MD PhD, Carsten Ernst MD, Stig Mindedahl Jespersen MD, PhD
Sector for Spine Surgery & Research, Middelfart Hospital
Background:
Coccydynia caused by falling or giving birth is mostly reported
in females in the age 30-60 years. Many treatment modalities have been sug-
gested including special pillows, steroid injections, special physiotherapy and
pain medication.
Purpose / Aim of Study:
The purpose of this study is to report the outcome,
1 year after surgery with partial or complete removal of the coccyx.
Materials and Methods:
Patients with a duration of symptoms more than 12-
18 months after trauma, no effect of conservative treatment and reported pain
VAS > 3 in sitting position, are referred to treatment. Surgery with full or par-
tially removal of the coccyx bone is suggested. Al patients are treated with 2-3
diagnostic steroid injections prior to surgery, to ensure the coccyx is inducing
the pain. All patients are recorded in the Danespine database, and the statistics
are performed with Stata version 1.2
Findings / Results:
138 consecutive patients were evaluated 3 and 12 months
after surgery. 3 months after surgery, 40 % of the patients are pain free in sit-
ting position, 47 % of the patients are experiencing some degree of discomfort
in sitting position but are improved and 13 % of the patients are still experienc-
ing pain while sitting. 99 patients are satisfied, 1 year after the surgery. 22
patients have hoped to have a bigger improvement and 17 patients are not
satisfied. 32 patients developed infections after surgery and received antibiot-
ics, 5 reoperations was performed, 3 due to infections and 2 due to rupture of
the skin after return to normal daily living 3 months after surgery.
Conclusions:
Patients with severe symptoms and pain duration of more than
12-18 months, should be referred for spine surgical evaluation. Partial or com-
plete resection of the coccyx, is a safe procedure, with a satisfactional outcome
in most patients.
No conflicts of interest reported
140.