Coccyx contusion

Definition

A coccyx bruise is damage to the bony coccyx caused by external violence. If the coccyx is bruised, there may be bruises or bruise marks in the area of ​​the vessel. By definition, however, a coccyx bruise does not have to be accompanied by visible skin injuries.

How dangerous is a coccyx contusion?

A coccyx contusion is usually caused by a hard fall on the bony tailbone. Bruised bones on the tailbone are one of the most painful injuries to the pelvis and take a long time to heal. For the affected patients, both sitting, standing and walking become particularly painful affairs.

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 affected patients. Although the coccyx is not exposed to any direct everyday stress due to its anatomical location, this bony structure is at a particularly high risk of fractures, dislocations (dislocations) and bruises.

People who regularly exercise in particular often suffer an injury to the coccyx. Even a violent fall on the buttocks can damage the bony tailbone. With regard to the pain caused by the trauma, the coccyx contusion can be classified as harmless compared to the coccyx dislocation.
While coccyx contusion can usually only be treated conservatively, coccyx dislocation often requires surgical treatment. Pronounced pain in the buttocks area is one of the typical symptoms of coccyx contusion. In addition, some of the affected patients may develop significant bruises and bruises on their buttocks. Depending on the extent of the coccyx contusion, the person's ability to work may even be restricted and a sick leave may be necessary.

Read more on this topic: Bruise treatment and duration

Symptoms

There are many accompanying symptoms of a coccyx contusion. However, these can sometimes also occur with other injuries to the buttocks or hips. You will find an overview of the most important symptoms listed below:

• Severe pain even when resting
• Increase in pain when walking and running
• Pain when sitting
• Limited mobility
• Bruising
• Swelling
• Hardening of the surrounding muscles

Since a coccyx bruise causes bruises deep into the tissue, those affected usually suffer from severe pain. Depending on the extent of the injury, the intensity of this pain can vary significantly. People who have a coccyx contusion describe the resulting pain as particularly intense. For this reason, the coccyx bruise is one of the most painful bruises ever.

Typically, if a tailbone contusion is present, the symptoms are already apparent at rest. The pain increases significantly with physical exertion. In many cases, the affected patients are barely able to walk or run. In addition, because of the severe pain, sitting is only possible to a limited extent or not at all. In addition, in the case of coccyx bruises, there may be visible bruise marks in the area of ​​the buttocks.
In addition, the formation of bruises in the rump region can be observed in many of the affected patients. Visible skin symptoms are, however, not mandatory in the presence of a coccyx contusion.

Another typical symptom of coccyx contusion is a pronounced restriction in mobility. However, this restriction of movement is caused less by the injury to the tailbone itself than by the pain that occurs during movement. Furthermore, the direct action of force on the bony coccyx and the surrounding tissue can damage the smallest nerve fibers.

As a result, numbness in the buttocks region is one of the typical symptoms of coccyx contusion. In addition, the accumulation of fluid within the damaged tissue can lead to clearly visible swellings. In many cases, the muscles in the area of ​​the coccyx are hardened when there is a contusion of the coccyx.

causes

A bruise generally always occurs when soft tissue (for example the subcutaneous fatty tissue or the muscles) is pressed directly against harder tissue structures (for example bones or cartilage tissue) and compressed there.

In addition, a bruise can be caused by shifting different types of tissue against each other. With almost every bruise, the smallest blood and / or lymph vessels are destroyed. Blood and lymph fluid can then escape from the damaged vessels and seep into the spaces between the cells. This phenomenon is the basis for the bruises that typically occur with a bruise (technical term: hematoma).

Depending on the extent of the forces acting on the body, superficial skin bruises, deeper muscle bruises or bone bruises can occur.
In the case of coccyx contusion, the affected patient has a contusion of the bone. In most cases, the coccyx contusion is caused by a direct, violent force on the bony coccyx.
Elderly people in particular suffer such damage to the coccyx by falling on their buttocks. In addition, powerful kicks against the buttocks region are one of the most common causes of tailbone contusion.

Another mechanism in which coccyx contusion occurs is the birth process. While the child's head moves forward in the birth canal, enormous forces act on the surrounding structures.
The bony pelvis is quite flexible and can expand during the birth process, but the tailbone can often not withstand these enormous forces. For this reason, a coccyx contusion can occur during the birth process. Furthermore, small forces that act on the bone over a longer period of time can lead to a coccyx contusion. A classic example of this is cycling.

therapy

The therapy of coccyx contusion can be done in different ways. The choice of the most suitable treatment depends primarily on the extent of the injury and the degree of impairment of the individual patient.
The basic principle of coccyx contusion therapy is based on relieving the symptoms. For this reason, it is especially important to combat the pain caused by the coccyx contusion. In this context, painkillers that have the active ingredients ibuprofen or paracetamol are particularly suitable.
If the pain is very severe, stronger pain relievers such as Novalgin can also be prescribed.

In addition, the coccyx contusion can be treated with various local anesthetics. These local anesthetics can be injected into the affected area of ​​the body. In this way, the pain caused by the coccyx contusion can be alleviated directly on the coccyx and the surrounding tissue.
In addition, the local injection of drugs from the group of glucocorticoids can help to inhibit inflammatory processes in the immediate vicinity of the coccyx.
Other methods of treating coccyx contusion are manual therapy and physiotherapy.
Both treatment methods serve to mobilize or manipulate the coccyx and can usually be used by any osteopath or chiropractor. A classic example of manual or physiotherapy in the presence of a coccyx contusion is what is known as acupuncture.
In this procedure, specific acupuncture points that are believed to have an impact on the tailbone are stimulated with thin needles. Acupuncture is used in the therapy of coccyx bruises primarily for symptomatic treatment. In particular, the severe pain that occurs in the presence of a coccyx contusion can be effectively relieved in this way.

In addition, locally applied heat or cold pillows can have a relieving effect on the pain felt by the affected patient. In this context, the use of mud packs and / or hip baths play a decisive role.

Despite these treatment measures, the pain caused by the coccyx contusion can hardly be brought under control, especially while sitting. For this reason, you should try not to exert excessive forces on the bony tailbone when sitting. A soft seat cushion, a soft seat ring that is open at the back or a special seat wedge can help to provide relief to the affected patient while they are sitting. In addition, the protection of the tail region ensures that the tailbone contusion heals much faster.

course

Of the course one Coccyx contusion varies from patient to patient. In what period the coccyx contusion finally heals and how long the everyday life of the patient affected by the sometimes very severe pain Is restricted depends mainly on the extent of the injury and the time of the diagnosis from.

diagnosis

In the event of long-lasting, severe pain in the tailbone area, a doctor should be consulted urgently. The diagnosis of coccyx contusion usually involves several steps. The most important step is the extensive doctor-patient conversation (anamnesis). During this conversation, it should be clarified at which point in time the pain in the tailbone first appeared and whether there was a greater force against the buttock region immediately before. In addition, further symptoms should be disclosed to the attending physician.

Following this doctor-patient conversation, there is usually an orienting physical examination during which the body regions bordering the buttocks are inspected. In addition, the surface of the skin in the area of ​​the coccyx is examined for abnormalities. In order to track down the cause of the pain felt by the patient, the buttock region must then be palpated.
The attending doctor usually applies pressure to several classic points on the coccyx and tries to provoke pain. If there is a contusion of the coccyx, pressure pain can be provoked, especially in the area of ​​the tip of the coccyx and at the transition between the coccyx and sacrum.

Since in many cases other diseases have to be ruled out even if a coccyx contusion is suspected, imaging methods can be useful. An ultrasound examination of the pelvis, the preparation of a computed tomography (CT) or the implementation of a magnetic resonance tomography (MRT) can be particularly helpful in this context.
If the presence of a tumor cannot be completely ruled out despite previous trauma, imaging using a contrast agent can be useful.

anatomy

The coccyx represents the lower proportion of Spine The anatomically correct name for the coccyx is "Coccyx"Or"Os coccygis“.
In general, it serves the different tapes and Muscles of Basin as a starting point.

Historically, the tailbone consists of four to five individual ones Vertebral bodieswhich, however, in most people in a bony connection (technical term: Synostosis) have grown together to form a structure. The bony tailbone itself is called the rudimentary rest one Tail of vertebrates.