Therapy | Coccyx fracture

Therapy

The coccyx fracture is usually treated conservatively (i.e. not surgically but by preserving the tissue of the injured organ). Analgesics (painkillers) can be taken to relieve pain and inhibit inflammation. Since the pain is provoked by pressure on the coccyx, a ring cushion is helpful when sitting to relieve the pain.

To reduce the pressure, drugs that keep the bowel movement soft can also help. In principle, the affected buttock region should be protected and cooled. If these measures are not successful and there is no visible improvement of the symptoms, the coccyx fracture must be treated surgically.

The coccyx fracture is a fracture that does not affect the stability of the pelvis. Therefore, surgery is not absolutely necessary and is only considered as a last resort if conservative therapy does not help, which is rarely the case. After a coccyx fracture, the affected bone is surgically removed (resection).

Since Os coccygis is the lowest part of the spine, the removal of this bone is largely unproblematic. An operation due to a bone fracture is always accompanied by a scar. After an operative resection of the coccyx, there are often complaints of surgical scarring in the form of wound healing disorders.

This is mainly related to the localization of the scar, as it is exposed to mechanical stress and friction, which can hardly be avoided completely. Therefore, the healing process can be delayed. The local proximity to the anus with potentially infectious stool requires special hygienic measures in wound care.

Prognosis

The coccyx fracture presents itself as an uncomplicated fracture without loss of stability, so that it can be treated conservatively in the first instance. Treatment beyond this in the form of surgical resection is less common. In principle, both therapeutic approaches are promising and can alleviate the symptoms, especially the pain.

However, the therapy often develops into a lengthy process. If the diagnosis is “coccyx fracture“, a decision must be made as to whether conservative therapy can already be promising or whether surgery should be performed immediately. If the decision is made in favor of conservative therapy with painkillers, immobilization and a ring cushion to relieve the strain, the symptoms sometimes do not improve contrary to expectations, so that surgery is recommended afterwards.

On the other hand, there is no guarantee that the operation will result in the desired recovery. Undesirable effects can be pain through the operation scar. The healing process as well as the response to the therapy is very individual.

The time course of a coccyx fracture is very variable. Severe pain after a severe fall causes most patients to visit the doctor rather than if there was subjectively only a slight force applied. Therefore, only the time with which the affected persons torture themselves untreated with the symptoms is different.

The conservative therapy can bring about the desired improvement within a few weeks. The healing process can be prolonged due to a lack of consistency in conservative measures. Regardless of this, there are always patients who develop chronic complaints after a coccyx fracture that they carry with them for a lifetime.