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Tailbone trauma - Overview

Alternative Names

Coccyx injury

Definition of Tailbone trauma:

Tailbone trauma is an injury to the small bone at the lower tip of the spine.

Considerations:

Actual fractures of the tailbone (coccyx) are not common. Tailbone trauma usually involves bruising of the bone or pulling of the ligaments.

Causes:

Backward falls onto a hard surface, such as a slippery floor or ice, are the most common cause of this injury.

Tailbone (coccyx)

Reviewed last on: 7/30/2010
Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Choi SB, Cwinn AA. Pelvic trauma. In: Marx JA, ed. Rosen’s Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2009:chap 52.

Vora A. Coccydynia. In: Frontera, WR, Silver JK, Rizzo TD Jr, eds. Essentials of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2008:chap 103.

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