Definition
A coccyx contusion is damage to the bony coccyx caused by external force. A coccyx contusion can cause bruising or bruise marks in the area of the vessel. By definition, however, a coccyx contusion need not be accompanied by visible skin injuries.
How dangerous is a coccyx contusion?
A coccyx contusion is usually caused by a hard fall onto the bony coccyx. The bony contusion of the coccyx is one of the most painful injuries of the pelvis and requires a long healing time. For the patients affected, sitting, standing and walking becomes particularly painful.
From a medical point of view, the presence of a coccyx contusion is harmless, but this clinical picture can have far-reaching consequences for the patients concerned. Although the coccyx is not exposed to direct everyday stress due to its anatomical position, this bony structure is at particularly high risk of fractures, dislocations and contusions. Especially people who are regularly engaged in sports often suffer an injury of the coccyx.
Even a violent fall on the buttocks can damage the bony coccyx. With regard to the pain caused by the trauma, the coccyx contusion can be considered more harmless than the coccyx luxation. While a coccyx contusion can usually only be treated conservatively, the coccyx luxation often requires surgical therapy.
Pronounced pain in the area of the buttocks is one of the typical symptoms of a coccyx contusion. In addition, some of the affected patients may develop distinct bruising marks and bruises on the buttocks. Depending on the extent of the coccyx contusion, the patient’s ability to work may even be limited and a sick note may be necessary.
Symptoms
There are many accompanying symptoms of a coccyx contusion. However, these can also occur in part with other injuries to the buttocks or hips. An overview of the most important symptoms is listed below: Since coccyx contusions cause bruising deep in the tissue, the affected persons usually suffer from severe pain.
Depending on the extent of the injury, the intensity of this pain can vary considerably. People who have a coccyx contusion describe the resulting pain as particularly intense. For this reason, the coccyx contusion is one of the most painful contusions of all.
Typically, the symptoms of a coccyx contusion are already apparent at rest. Under physical exertion, the pain increases significantly in intensity. In many cases, the affected patients are hardly able to walk or run.
In addition, sitting is only possible to a limited extent or not at all due to the severe pain. In addition, in the case of coccyx bruising, visible bruising marks can occur in the area of the buttocks. In addition, the development of bruising in the coccyx region can be observed in many of the affected patients.
However, visible skin symptoms are not obligatory in the presence of a coccyx contusion. Another typical symptom of coccyx contusion is a pronounced restriction of mobility. However, this restriction of movement is caused less by the injury to the coccyx itself than by the pain that occurs during movement.
Furthermore, the direct application of force to the bony coccyx and surrounding tissue can damage the smallest nerve fibers. In the course of this, numbness in the buttock region is also one of the typical symptoms of coccyx contusion. In addition, the storage of fluid within the damaged tissue can lead to clearly visible swelling. In many cases, the muscles in the coccyx region are hardened in the presence of a coccyx contusion.
- Severe pain even at rest
- Increased pain when walking and running
- Pain when sitting
- Limited mobility
- Bruises
- Swelling
- Hardening of the surrounding musculature