Research Information System
International journal of traditional and complementary medicine research (Online), vol.5, no.2, pp.146-151, 2024 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
Objective: Coccygodynia, a condition primarily affecting women, is characterized by pain localized around the coccyx, which is aggravated by activities such as sitting, sexual intercourse, defecation, or transitioning from a seated to a standing position. Although a range of conservative treatments, including NSAIDs, ice application, and physical therapy, are commonly employed, a subset of patients fails to achieve symptom relief. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of rectal manipulation combined with paracoccygeal steroid injections in patients with chronic coccygodynia unresponsive to conservative treatments. Material-Method: This retrospective study involved 24 patients (20 females and 4 males) with chronic coccygodynia that persisted despite more than three months of conservative treatment. All patients received a combination of steroid-local anesthetic injections and rectal manipulation. VAS scores were recorded before intervention, on the 10th day post-intervention, at one year, and at the last follow-up visit. Patients were assessed for trauma history, BMI, coccyx type, and dynamic radiographic findings. Results: The mean VAS score significantly decreased from 7.9 pre-treatment to 2.2 on the 10th day post-treatment (p<0.001). This improvement persisted with mean VAS scores of 2.9 at one year and 2.7 at the last follow-up, although a slight, non-significant increase was noted over time. Patients with hypermobility of the coccyx showed significantly higher VAS scores at the last follow-up compared to those without hypermobility (p=0.009). No significant differences in treatment outcomes were observed between traumatic and atraumatic etiologies or between normal and overweight BMI groups Conclusion: The combination of paracoccygeal steroid injections and rectal manipulation appears to be an effective treatment for chronic coccygodynia, with a significant reduction in pain scores. Hypermobility of the coccyx may be associated with higher recurrence rates, warranting further investigation into tailored treatments for this subgroup.