A retrospective study on the pathologies in patients with coccydynia-lumbosacralgia and their treatment.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to arrange the treatment according to the etiology following the differential diagnosis in patients who had presented to the Orthopedics and Traumatology and General Surgery outpatient departments, and to emphasize the post-treatment success. METHOD: The charts of 156 patients who had presented to the Orthopedics and Traumatology, General Surgery Departments of the Kafkas University Faculty of Medicine between July 2012 and June 2021 were retrospectively reviewed after permission was obtained from the ethics committee in this study. The demographic findings and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) results for those with a symptom of pain as detected during the physical examination were recorded from the patient charts. RESULTS: A total of 156 patients who had presented with traumatic and non-traumatic conditions to the Orthopedics Clinic complaining of pain, burning, sensitivity, discharge and hyperemia at the coccyx region were included in the study. The reason for the lumbosacralgia was found to be traumatic as in heavy lifting or working physically difficult jobs in 62 of the 95 patients (65.26%) who presented with lumbosacralgia and pain referred to the coccyx. The mean VAS was 7.37 before treatment and 2.32 following conservative treatment. There was a history of falling on the coccyx region in 8 of the 14 patients with traumatic isolated coccydynia. The pre-treatment mean VAS was 8.64 in the patients with a diagnosis of coccydynia while the post-treatment mean VAS was 0 in 8 patients with full recovery, 4.33 in 3 patients with partial recovery, and 9.66 in 3 patients with no recovery. The pre-treatment mean VAS was 7.58 in the 29 patients with thrombosed hemorrhoids, decreasing to 0 after treatment. The pre-treatment mean VAS was 4.16 in the 18 patients with a pilonidal sinus, again decreasing to 0 after treatment. CONCLUSION: Possible underlying etiological factors should be taken into account when making a diagnosis in patients with coccydynia and the treatment should be determined in a multidisciplinary manner.

Novel approach for pericapsular radiofrequency ablation of sacrococcygeal junction for patients with coccydynia.

INTRODUCTION: Coccydynia is a multifactorial complex clinical challenge. A multimodal approach with both conservative measures and procedural interventions is often recommended. We described a novel approach of radiofrequency (RF) ablation for the management of coccydynia. METHODS: Three patients with known history of coccydynia refractory to conservative therapy were referred to our clinic. All received different types of RF ablation before: one with anterior bipolar lesion with no analgesia benefit, one with posterior stripped lesion with good benefit but only after 8 weeks of pain flare and one received anterior monopolar lesion with 50% pain reduction for 2-3 months. All subjects underwent a novel RF ablation to the anterior surface of the sacrococcygeal and intercoccygeal joints with two bipolar lesions using multi-tined needles under fluoroscopy guidance. One bipolar lesion was between two needles: one in the sacrococcygeal and another in the intercoccygeal (between first and second coccyx) joints. Another bipolar lesion was between needles on both side of the sacrococcygeal joint. RESULTS: All experienced at least 65% pain relief for 6 months. The sitting endurance increased from less than 5 min to an average of 70 min. No adverse effect was observed in two and in the patient who used to have pain flare after lesioning, the pain flare lasted only for 2 weeks. DISCUSSION: The configuration of the two bipolar lesions with multi-tined needles in this case series stimulates the thinking of new approach for the ablation technique for pain from coccyx. Further prospective large case cohort study is needed.

Imaging Coccygeal Trauma and Coccydynia.

The coccygeal region has complex anatomy, much of which may contribute to or be the cause of coccyx region pain (coccydynia). This anatomy is well depicted at imaging, and management is often dictated by what structures are involved. Coccydynia is a common condition that is known to be difficult to evaluate and treat. However, imaging can aid in determining potential causes of pain to help guide management. Commonly, coccydynia (coccygodynia) occurs after trauma and appears with normal imaging features at static neutral radiography, but dynamic imaging with standing and seated lateral radiography may reveal pathologic coccygeal motion that is predictive of pain. In addition, several findings seen at cross-sectional imaging in patients with coccydynia can point to a source of pain that may be subtle and easily overlooked. Radiology can also offer a role in management of coccygeal region pain with image-guided pain management procedures such as ganglion impar block. In addition to mechanical coccyx pain, a host of other conditions involving the sacrococcygeal region may cause coccydynia, which are well depicted at imaging. These include neoplasm, infection, crystal deposition, and cystic formations such as pilonidal cyst. The authors review a variety of coccydynia causes, their respective imaging features, and common management strategies.©RSNA, 2020.

Sacrococcygeal teratoma with intraspinal extension: A case series and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Sacrococcygeal teratoma (SCT) is the most common teratoma in neonates and arises from the coccyx. SCT with intraspinal invasion is extremely rare and only reported in a few cases. METHODS: 37 patients with SCT were identified at our institution between 2000 and 2018. Three of these patients had SCT with intraspinal extension. A literature review for intraspinal extension associated with SCT, including mode of diagnosis, presentation, surgical approach and neurological sequelae, between 1993 and 2018 was also conducted. RESULTS: The authors report three cases of infants who were antenatally and/or postnatally diagnosed with a sacrococcygeal teratoma extending into the spinal canal. We illustrate the challenges of accurate diagnosis and therapeutic management. Postnatal magnet resonance imaging (MRI) was the best method to define spinal anatomy and extension of the tumors prior to surgery. Management with a multidisciplinary team approach including neuroradiology, neurosurgery and general surgery was used in our two most recent patients. The literature review yielded 6 cases of SCT with intraspinal extension. CONCLUSION: Intraspinal extension in SCT is rare but should be excluded at birth before attempting any resection. In case of positive spinal invasion on Ultrasonography (US), MRI is essential to plan for surgery and possible laminectomy to be able to perform a radical resection of this congenital tumor. We recommend this multidisciplinary approach. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level IV.

Coccydynia relieved by a tarsal tunnel block: a case series.

BACKGROUND: This case series describes, for the first time, to the author's knowledge, a novel treatment for coccydynia. Tarsal tunnel block with lignocaine only brought relief of chronic coccydynia lasting more than 6 months in three patients. The author adopts the theory that the myelin sheath of the posterior tibial nerve will convey the lipid-soluble lignocaine upward toward the dorsal root ganglia and the nerve roots of the lumbar spine through the uninterrupted myelin sheath, which is itself mainly formed of lipids. The author thinks that most coccyx pain is actually a radiating pain from the lumbar spine, which is not always apparent on magnetic resonance imaging of the lumbar spine. Certainly, the author acknowledges that large-scale studies need to be done to prove the efficacy of this new technique and to prove that the myelin sheath can convey the lignocaine chemical upward. CASE PRESENTATION: Three Arab patients presented with chronic coccydynia of more than 6 months' duration in whom conservative management had failed to control their symptoms. They had no past medical history of significance and no history of trauma. The results of physical examination of all of the patients were normal apart from tenderness on palpation of the coccyx. They all received local coccyx injection with steroids on two occasions, which failed to relieve their pain. One patient underwent manipulation under anesthesia, and one underwent coccygectomy with no pain relief. Magnetic resonance imaging results were reported to be normal in two of them, whereas the other one had a prolapsed disc at the L4/L5 level. The three patients described pain relief 30 minutes after tarsal tunnel block with lignocaine only lasting more than 6 months. All patients had heel anesthesia 15 minutes after the tarsal tunnel injection, which lasted only 1 hour. CONCLUSIONS: Tarsal tunnel block with lignocaine can relieve coccyx pain for a long time. Tarsal tunnel block can be done to achieve heel anesthesia before injection of lignocaine into the plantar fascia in patients with plantar fasciitis.

Pressure redistributing in-seat movement activities by persons with spinal cord injury over multiple epochs.

Pressure ulcers, by definition, are caused by external forces on the tissues, often in the regions of bony prominences. Wheelchair users are at risk to develop sitting-acquired pressure ulcers, which occur in the regions of the ischial tuberosities, sacrum/coccyx or greater trochanters. As a means to prevent pressure ulcers, instruction on performing pressure reliefs or weight shifts are a part of the rehabilitation process. The objective of this study was to monitor the weight shift activity of full-time wheelchair users with acute spinal cord injury over multiple epochs of time in order to determine consistency or routine within and across epochs. A second objective was to evaluate the accuracy of self-reported pressure relief frequency within each measurement epoch. A wheelchair in-seat activity monitor was used to measure weight shifts and other in-seat movement. The data was classified into multiple in-seat activity metrics using machine learning. Seventeen full-time wheelchair users with spinal cord injury were measured within multiple epochs, each lasting more than 1 week. Across all in-seat activity metrics, no consistent pattern of activity changes emerged. None of the in-seat activity metric changed in any one direction across a majority of subjects. Subjects tended to over-estimate their frequency of performing pressure reliefs. Self-reported pressure relief behaviors are not reliable, and therefore, cannot be used to evaluate preventative behaviors either clinically or within research. This study had the capability of fully investigating in-seat movements of wheelchair users. The results indicated that in-seat movement does not reflect a routine, either in pressure reliefs, weight shifts or other functional in-seat movements. This study has illustrated the complexity of assigning causation of pressure ulcer occurrence to seated behaviors of wheelchair users and identifies the need for improved clinical techniques designed to develop routine behaviors to prevent pressure ulcers.

Alternative way to find sacral hiatus for blind caudal block - Based on 3D pelvis CT anthropometry: A retrospective study.

The aim of this study is to develop an alternative way to locate the sacral hiatus for blind caudal block from the anthropometrical data measured on 3D pelvic CT. The intersection of the line connecting two sacral cornua and the midline is considered the ideal point (IP) for caudal block. The mean length from the coccyx tip to the IP was measured using 3D pelvic CT images in 30 men and 30 women and was 6.5 cm and 6.0 cm, respectively. For the conventional method group, we used the conventional equilateral triangle method to find the sacral hiatus, which was named conventional method group needling point (CNP). For the experimental method group, the point 6.5 cm or 6.0 cm (mean length from the coccyx tip to the IP) away from the coccyx tip was called the experimental method group needling point (ENP). Drawing the three points of the IP, CNP, and ENP on the same patient's 3D pelvic CT, we compared the distance from the IP to the CNP with the distance from the IP to the ENP. We propose that the experimental method is comparable to the conventional method in locating the sacral hiatus, which is crucial for a successful caudal block procedure. Anthropometric measurements and virtual comparative test between two methods were done on the 3D pelvis CT. In men, the distance from the CNP to the IP was 0.8 ±â€¯0.5 cm in the conventional method group, while the distance from the ENP to the IP was 0.5 ±â€¯0.4 cm in the experimental method group (p < 0.05). In women, the same distances were 1.5 ±â€¯0.8 cm and 0.7 ±â€¯0.3 cm, respectively (p < 0.05). In conclusion, finding a point of 6.5 cm from the coccyx tip in men and 6.0 cm in women could be an alternative way to find the sacral hiatus for blind caudal block.

Adenocarcinoma arising in a rectal duplication cyst with distant metastasis A case report and a review of the recent literature.

INTRODUCTION: Rectal duplication cysts are rare cystic lesions, arising from the hindgut and classified as congenital/developmental tumors of the presacral space. Their clinical presentation is nonspecific, the diagnosis remains difficult and their management is aided by a multidisciplinary evaluation. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 55-year-old woman with a cystic mass located in the retrorectal space and identified incidentally on a CT scan. Following imaging studies, surgical resection by a posterior approach (Kraske procedure) was carried out and an adenocarcinoma arising in a duplication cyst of the rectum was present an uncommon case of a rectal duplication cyst with malignant transformation and distant metastasis, describe the clinical, radiologic and pathologic findings and discuss tidentified by microscopy. CONCLUSION: We phe embryological basis of rectal duplication cysts and the surgical anatomy of the presacral space. Key Words: Rectal adenocarcinoma, rectal duplication cyst, Retrorectal space.

Coccydynia: Tailbone Pain.

Coccyx (tailbone) pain substantially decreases the quality of life for patients who suffer with this condition. Classic symptoms include midline pain located below the sacrum and above the anus. Symptoms are worse while sitting or during transitions from sitting to standing. Physical examination typically reveals focal tenderness during palpation of the coccyx. Diagnostic tests include radiographs. Advanced studies may include MRI, computerized tomography scans, or nuclear medicine bone scans. Treatments may include the use of cushions, medications by mouth, topical medications, local pain management injections, pelvic floor physical therapy, and (in rare cases) surgical removal of the coccyx (coccygectomy).

Cushing's syndrome in infancy due to ectopic ACTH secretion by a sacro-coccygeal teratoma.

BACKGROUND: Adenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)-dependent Cushing's syndrome in infancy is extremely rare. We describe the case of a sacro-coccygeal ectopic ACTH-secreting immature teratoma in an infant who also presented the triad of defects characteristic of Currarino syndrome. CASE PRESENTATION: A girl was born with a large immature teratoma in the sacro-coccygeal region associated with anal atresia. At the age of 7 days, the concentration of α-fetoprotein (AFP) was above the age-specific normal range. Two non-radical surgical excisions of the tumour were performed. At the age of 7 months, she developed polyphagia, acne, hirsutism, hypertension and hypokalemia with elevated ACTH and absence of serum cortisol circadian rhythm. Immunostaining of tumour tissue showed ACTH-immunoreactive cells. Due to unsuccessful therapy with ketoconazole and resistance to antihypertensive medications [blood pressure (BP) 210/160 mmHg], metyrapone was administered, which controlled her ACTH and cortisol levels in the normal range. Following further removal of tumour bulk after three operations during the first year of life, there was a decrease of BP to normal values. CONCLUSIONS: A rare case of ectopic ACTH syndrome causing Cushing's syndrome in infancy in the context of Currarino syndrome is reported. Radical surgery has resulted in excision of the tumour and current control of Cushing's syndrome.

Metastatic saccrococcygeal chordoma.

We report a 46-year-old man who presented with a 2week history of worsening headaches and acute onset left sided hemiplegia. He had undergone a surgical resection of a sacral chordoma 13years prior, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. MRI revealed multiple enhancing lesions in the brain, and the two largest were resected. The histopathology was consistent with chordoma. Sacrococcygeal chordomas are locally invasive notochord-related sarcomas. They rarely metastasize to the brain, and only eight patients have been reported. While currently available adjuvant radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapeutic regimens can be implemented in the management of these rare patients, they have shown limited success. The newer strategies that are reported here have also been disappointing.

Fracture dislocation of the sacro-coccygeal joint in a 12-year-old boy. A case report and literature review.

A case report and literature review. To present a rare case of facture dislocation of the sacro-coccygeal joint in a 12-year-old boy who was treated conservatively. Fracture dislocations of the sacrum or the sacro-coccygeal joint are infrequent injuries and are rarely reported. The treatment for these disorders is usually conservative. Detailed description of the anterior dislocation (Salter-Harris type I) of the sacro-coccygeal joint in this child and its management are presented, with review of the relevant literature. A conservative treatment was performed, with excellent clinical and radiological result at three years after the injury. MR imaging obtained at two years showed very good healing and alignment. Fracture dislocation of the sacro-coccygeal joint in the pediatric population should be treated conservatively, as the potential of healing and remodeling is great. Closed reduction should not be attempted.

Extragonadal malignant germ cell tumors: a clinicopathological and immunohistochemical analysis of 48 cases at a single Chinese institution.

Primary extragonadal malignant germ cell tumors (EMGCTs) are rare and characterized by the location in the midline of the body, including mediastinum, CNS, retroperitoneum and coccyx. EMGCTs present with different clinical and biologic characteristics in different tumor locations. Accurately diagnosing MEGCTs would be very difficult by performing on HE staining alone, and requires immunohistochemical verification. This study was to investigate the biological feature of EMGCTs and diagnostic value of immunohistochemical markers OCT3/4, CD117, PLAP, AFP, ß-HCG and CD30 in EMGCTs. A retrospective study was performed on 48 patients with EMGCTs. EMGCTs were found to occur predominantly in males, especially for mediastinal MGCTs. The tumor locations included mediastinum, CNS and retroperitoneum. The mediastinum and CNS were the most common sites of EMGCTs. Seminoma/germinomas (64.6%) was the most common histological subtypes of EMGCTs. Chest pain, dyspnea, cough and fever were the most common clinical presentations in mediastinal MGCTs. Headache, visual disturbances, endocrine abnormalities, and signs of increased intracranial pressure were common clinical symptoms in CNS MGCTs. Abdominal mass with or without pain, backache and weight loss were common clinical presentations in retroperitoneal MGCTs. PLAP, CD117 and OCT3/4 were highly expressed in seminomas/gernimomas. CD30, EMA and CK AE1/3 staining were positive in embryonal carcinoma. AFP and ß-HCG positive staining are characteristic in yolk sac tumors and choriocarcinoma, respectively. Patients with seminomas/germinomas had a better prognosis than those with NS/G-GCTs. Our finding suggests that the accurate diagnosis of EMGCTs is critical not only for predicting the tumor progression but also for patient management. Immunohistochemical markers have become an important tool in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of EMGCTs.

[Severe constipation caused by an abnormally angled coccyx]. / Svær obstipationsom følge af abnormt vinklet os coccygis

Constipation is a common disease among patients in all age groups, and the pathology can vary. This case report describes a 26-year-old female with severe constipation for six years. She was referred to a centre for spine surgery with a coccyx compressing her rectum causing constipation. The symptoms developed six years previously after a trauma, progressed during pregnancy and after giving birth. X-ray showed a 90-degree anterior angulated coccyx compressing the rectum. She was treated with resection of the coccyx, and symptoms disappeared after surgery.

Cytomorphologic findings of intraosseous notochordal rest on touch preparation: a case report.

Intraosseous notochordal rest is a rare intravertebral lesion of notochord origin which is presumably benign. It is usually an incidental finding in microscopic examination of vertebrectomy due to unrelated lesions or autopsy cases. Chordoma is a malignant neoplasm originating from notochord with a different clinicoradiographic presentation, prognosis, and treatment. However, the histology of intraosseous notochordal rest and chordoma is almost identical. Herein, we report cytomorphologic findings of a case of intraossous notochordal rest on touch preparation.