Coccygectomy

Editor-In-Chief: Patrick Foye, MD, Associate Professor, and Director, Coccyx Pain Service, New Jersey Medical School [1] Note that medical advice can not be given to patients who have not yet been seen by Dr. Foye in his office. For more information on Dr. Foye's treatments for Tailbone Pain please see: www.TailboneDoctor.com

Overview

Coccygectomy is surgery to remove the coccyx.

In humans, coccygectomy is the treatment of last resort for coccydynia, but a required treatment for sacrococcygeal teratoma and other germ cell tumors involving the coccyx.

To preserve normal defecation, coccygectomy normally is accompanied by re-attachment (also known as re-approximation) of the two levator ani muscles and of the perineum, parts of the pelvic floor. In adults who undergo coccygectomy, but not in babies and young children, one infrequent complication is a later perineal hernia.