The influence of etiology on the results of coccygectomy.

The results of coccygectomy for coccygodynia seem not to have been correlated with etiologic factors and were investigated in 48 cases (10 men and 38 women) with an average follow-up period of seven years. The following four etiologic groups were designated: I, direct trauma; II, spontaneous in origin; III, coccygodynia associated with spinal surgery; and IV, postpartum. Groups I and IV had a 75% recovery rate from pain and Group II had a 58% recovery rate. No satisfactory results were obtained in Group III. The incidence of infection was 16.6%. Few satisfactory results were obtained in cases of deep infection. While this operation is effective in many cases, it is seldom successful for pain associated with lumbar disc disease requiring lumbar laminectomy and spine fusion. Prophylactic antibiotic therapy is clearly indicated.