The Journal of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
1988 Aug, 33:4, 202-3
Eng JB; Rymaszewski L; Jepson K
Orthopaedic Department, Bradford Royal Infirmary, Duckworth Lane, Bradford BD9 6RJ, UK
Summary by Jon Miles:
Patients with coccydynia were treated with conservative measures such as steroid injections and physiotherapy. In most cases this was successful. In a six year period, 27 patients for whom conservative treatment was unsuccessful were given a partial coccygectomy, removing only the mobile parts of the coccyx. Their condition was reviewed at least 18 months after the operation.
There were 25 women and 2 men. 13 had backache in addition to coccydynia, and 6 had pain and abnormal sensations in their legs. The average hospital stay for the operation was 6.5 days. Discomfort when sitting lasted on average for 2 months after the operation. Six patients had delayed healing of the wound, four had constipation and four had to be temporarily catheterized for urinary retention.
18 patients (67%) were satisfied with the results, having no pain or a significant improvement. 6 (22%) had a slight improvement. One had no improvement and two (7%) were worse than before the operation. 8 of the 18 satisfied patients, and 7 of the 9 dissatisfied patients, had backache before the operation.