Coccygectomy

Tailbone pain can affect you whether you’re sitting or standing and may cause undue stress in multiple areas of your life.  A coccygectomy is a common treatment performed to treat coccyx or tailbone pain. Often, a broken or damaged coccyx never completely heals on its own, and since the body does not actually need the coccyx, a coccygectomy can be performed to remove it from the body. This procedure is designed to permanently correct your problem and reduce or eliminate your pain.

If you believe you may be a candidate for a coccygectomy, an experienced spinal specialist can help you embark on your road to recovery. The skilled surgeons and doctors at Orthopedic & Laser Spine Surgery are leaders in spine surgery and orthopedic treatments. We have a proven track record of successfully addressing our patients’ pain. We also specialize in state-of-the-art minimally invasive treatments to ensure you are back on your feet as quickly as possible. 

A coccygectomy is a surgery performed to remove the bones of the tailbone. These bones are commonly fractured in people with chronic tailbone pain, and surgery is usually the only way to resolve the problem and help reduce or remove the pain altogether.

Tailbone pain is typically caused by a degeneration of the joints in the coccyx. This degeneration can be caused by injury, childbirth, or simply wear and tear over time. A coccyx surgery is typically a last-resort procedure to treat tailbone pain that doesn’t respond well to more conservative treatments.

If your tailbone pain is not getting better with other treatments, surgery may be the best option available to relieve your pain. At Orthopedic & Laser Spine Surgery, our spinal specialists will evaluate your unique needs to determine the best procedure to resolve your pain. Depending on your needs, our specialists may employ one of the following treatments:

Open Coccygectomy

An open coccygectomy involves cutting a large incision in the skin and soft tissue over the tailbone in order to fully expose the bones. This type of procedure is typically only recommended in rare cases.

Patients with severe infection or very poor bone density may not be able to undergo laparoscopic surgery. In these cases, a large incision may be the only way to access the tailbone area. While an open coccygectomy is a high-risk procedure, it may be the best option for some patients depending on their medical history. 

Laparoscopic Coccygectomy

In a laparoscopic coccygectomy, the surgeon will insert a special instrument into the abdomen and remove the tailbone through a small incision in the skin. This procedure is often recommended for patients with a normal or healthy immune system. A laparoscopic coccygectomy involves significantly less risk than an open procedure and typically has a quicker recovery period. 

Before your procedure, you will meet with your surgeon to discuss your particular case and receive instructions on how to prepare for your procedure. You should expect to follow a preoperative diet in the days leading up to your coccygectomy surgery. Your coccygectomy specialist will also likely give you instructions for the type and amount of fluids that you are allowed to consume. Additionally, you may be advised to take supplements in order to boost your immune system and strengthen your bones.

Depending on the circumstances surrounding your case, your surgeon may recommend that you receive antibiotics in order to prevent infection. It is essential to adhere to your preoperative instructions so that you are in the best condition possible for your procedure. 

After your procedure, you will stay in the hospital for 24 hours so that your doctor can closely monitor your progress and make sure that everything goes as planned. In most cases, patients will experience some pain and discomfort in the days after surgery. It is vital to follow the doctor’s instructions on when and how to move around to reduce the risk of any complications.

You may experience some blood clotting and swelling, which is normal following any surgery. Patients typically return to work and daily activities within two to six weeks after a coccygectomy. Make sure you take it easy for the first few weeks following your surgery in order to ensure a smooth recovery.

As a part of OLSS’s commitment to our patients, we have put together a quick and easy-to-use tool to help determine whether a coccygectomy is the right treatment for you.

To get started, fill out our questionnaire, which should only take about five minutes. Once submitted, one of the skilled professionals at OLSS will review your submission and in touch with you to discuss the cause of your pain as well as your best path forward.

With some of the most skilled and highly qualified surgeons in the industry, OLSS has one of the highest success rates for these types of surgeries. This in part is due to ensure each patient undergoes a thorough candidacy checking process.

If you require a coccygectomy, it is essential to place your trust in a skilled and experienced spinal specialist. At Orthopedic & Laser Spine Surgery, our coccygectomy specialists are well-versed in both open and laparoscopic coccygectomy procedures and have a proven track record of providing successful outcomes for our patients. Our surgical center provides our patients with unique advantages, including the following:

• We accept various insurance plans
• We offer a wide range of treatment options
• Our patients have a 95% or higher success rate for most treatments
• We offer several innovative and minimally invasive treatment options
• Our surgical center is owned and operated by Dr. Scott Katzman, a leading expert in orthopedic treatment
• We offer outpatient procedures that can get you back on your feet as quickly as possible
• We offer innovative stem cell treatment options
• We are one of the few centers that offer Total Disc Replacement and Endoscopic Discectomies

We tailor our approach to each patient’s needs to ensure you receive the best treatment possible for your unique needs.

If you are experiencing tailbone pain, a spinal expert can help you get back to a pain-free life by performing a tailbone surgery. Depending on the circumstances surrounding your case, a coccygectomy may not be your only option. Our team at Orthopedic & Laser Spine Surgery is dedicated to helping solve your back pain in the least invasive manner possible and improving your recovery time and quality of life after your procedure. Our compassionate spine surgeons and technicians will create a personalized approach for your specific condition, giving you the specialized attention you need. Contact us here by calling (855) 853-6542 or filling out our contact form.