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Tailbone trauma
Coccyx injury
Tailbone trauma is an injury to the small bone at the lower tip of the spine.
Considerations
Actual fractures of the tailbone (coccyx) are not common. Tailbone trauma usually involves bruising of the bone or pulling of the ligaments.
Fractures
If more pressure is put on a bone than it can stand, it will split or break. A break of any size is called a fracture. If the broken bone punctures...
Bruising
Bleeding into the skin can occur from broken blood vessels that form tiny red dots (called petechiae). Blood also can collect under the tissue in la...
Causes
Backward falls onto a hard surface, such as a slippery floor or ice, are the most common cause of this injury.
Symptoms
- Bruising on the lower part of the spine
- Pain when sitting or putting pressure on the tailbone
First Aid
For tailbone trauma when no spinal cord injury is suspected:
Spinal cord injury
Spinal cord trauma is damage to the spinal cord. It may result from direct injury to the cord itself or indirectly from disease of the nearby bones,...
- Relieve pressure on the tailbone by sitting on an inflatable rubber ring or cushions.
- Take acetaminophen for pain.
- Take a stool softener to avoid constipation.
If you suspect injury to the neck or spine, do not attempt to move the person.
Do Not
Do NOT attempt to move the person if you think there may be injury to the spinal cord.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Call for immediate medical help if:
- Spinal cord injury is suspected
- The person can't move
- Pain is severe
Prevention
- Do NOT run on slippery surfaces, such as around a swimming pool.
- Dress in shoes with good tread or slip-resistant soles, especially in snow or on ice.
References
Choi SB, Cwinn AA. Pelvic trauma. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2014:chap 55.
Vora A, Yin AX. Coccydynia. In: Frontera, WR, Silver JK, Rizzo TD Jr, eds. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders; 2015:chap 103.
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Tailbone (coccyx) - illustration
The tailbone (coccyx) is the small bone at the lower tip of the spine. The most common cause of injury to the tailbone is a backward fall onto a hard surface, such as a slippery floor or ice.
Tailbone (coccyx)
illustration
Review Date: 1/12/2016
Reviewed By: Dennis Ogiela, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon, Danbury Hospital, Danbury, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Isla Ogilvie, PhD, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
