Injury to the coccyx, or bone formed by the last vertebrae of the spine, due to the action of an external force or energy.
The most common cause is a fall on a hard surface.
It manifests with pain and bruising on the lower back. The pain increases characteristically when sitting.
The diagnosis is clinical, through interrogation about the episode and physical examination. It is usually supplemented with a spine X-ray to study the degree of bone injury.
The treatment is based on controlling pain with common painkillers and reduce bruising and swelling with indirect local cooling and antiinflammatory drugs. It is advisable to use a cushion or an inflatable rubber ring to sit on. If the pain increases when defecating, foods with fibre or laxatives should be taken to avoid hard stools.
If at any moment mobility of the legs is lost or the pain is very intense and does not yield, it is recommended to go to the A&E.
- MedlinePlus. Rockville. 2017. Atención postratamiento para lesión en el cóccix; [citado el 21 de junio de 2017]. Disponible en: https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/patientinstructions/000573.htm2.
- MedlinePlus. Rockville. 2017. Traumatismo de cóccix; [citado el 21 de junio de 2017]. Disponible en: https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/article/000008.htm
- A. Rosich. Enfermedades no degenerativas de la médula espinal. Lesiones traumáticas de la médula espinal. Farreras Rozman. Medicina Interna. Volumen II. Duodécima edición. 1469:1471.
- UpToDate [Internet]. Waltham. 2017. Coccydynia (coccygodynia); [citado el 21 de junio de 2017]. Disponible en: http://www.uptodate.com/contents/coccydynia-coccygodynia?source=search_result&search=traumatismo+coxis&selectedTitle=1~9
