Coccygectomy, surgical excision of the coccyx, may be used to treat coccydynia, a chronic and disabling condition of the lowest part of the spine. It is a controversial and infrequently performed operation that many surgeons are reluctant to perform due to the risks of rectal perforation and infection. The criteria for patient selection for coccygectomy remain ill-defined. We present a single surgeon case series of 17 patients who underwent coccygectomy for chronic coccydynia. This was a retrospective observarional case series analysis. Case notes of 17 patients who underwent coccygectomy from 1999 -2009 were obtained and analysed. We then carried out telephone survey for which only 15 patients were contactable. We used the Milton Keynes Orthopaedic Patient Satisfaction survey and the modified Oswestry low back pain disability questionnaire. All patients had a two to three year history of coccydynia; 15 following trauma, one following a caudal injection and one following birth delivery. All patients had received between one and five lignocaine/methylprednisolone injections prior to coccygectomy, with documented initial symptom relief. All 17 patients had documented hypermobile sacro-coccygeal joints. Post-operative symptom relief varied between 60% and 100%, with all patients reporting that they would have their surgery again. Complications included three post-operative wound infections. There were no cases of rectal perforation. Coccygectomy for intractable coccydynia is sometimes the only option available. With good patient selection, including identification of a hypermobile joint with initial symptom relief following local injection, coccygectomy is a successful and safe treatment.
To determine presenting features, treatment modalities and associated outcome following treatment of spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas in a tertiary centre. Retrospective cohort study of patients with SDAVF assessed at a single tertiary referral centre, between 1999 and 2009. Medical records were used to identify intervention type, pre- and post-intervention Aminoff-Logue disability score (ALDS), recurrence rate, follow-up time and discharge status. Statistical analysis was performed using Wilcoxon signed rank. 26 patients were identified with 23 receiving intervention. Two were unavailable for follow up. Endovascular embolization was performed successfully in 13 patients, recurrence occurred in 6 of these, 3 of which were subsequently treated surgically. Surgery was the initial treatment for 10 patients due to either unsuccessful embolization attempt or proximity of the fistula to spinal artery feeders; only 1 of these recurred. ALDS-gait reduced (improved) by a mean of 0.33 points following intervention but this was not statistically significant ( Both embolisation and surgery achieved the primary aim of reducing disease progression, leading to an improved ALDS. Outcome was superior if initially treated surgically and recurrence occurred more frequently in patients treated endovascularly. The small number of patients in our cohort emphasise the need for further studies into this group of patients.
