Under the dislocation of the coccyx is understood the complete displacement of the surfaces of the joints located on the coccyx, as well as on the sacrum, relative to each other. When a dislocation occurs, the coccyx is shifted, while the sacrum is in place. The surfaces of the coccyx and sacrum lose their common ground. There are quite a few reasons for the development of such injuries. The picture of the course of the pathology is pronounced, therefore, the identification of dislocation does not present any special difficulties.
Causes
In medical practice, dislocation and subluxation of the coccyx are distinguished when the joints are not completely displaced. Similar injuries can occur both in an adult and in childhood. However, the factors that lead to the appearance of a dislocation or subluxation differ. The most common causes of such injuries are:
- Falling on a hard surface. Especially when landing occurs on the buttocks. The most characteristic of such an injury is for children who, due to increased activity, often fall.
- Intense physical activity, including sports.
- Strong shaking while riding on rough roads.
- Blow directly into the buttocks area with great intensity.
- Labor can also lead to coccyx dislocation. This is due to the narrow pelvis in a woman, the large size of the fetus, as well as during prolonged, complicated births.
- Atrophy or muscle weakness in the lumbar region. Most often found in people in old age.
- Violation of the amortization of the knee joints.
No apparent reason
It must be borne in mind that injury can occur for no apparent or obvious reason. In this case, the dislocation is called idiopathic. This kind of pathology occurs if there is a history of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system or due to the development of a malignant neoplasm in the structures of the vertebral system.
Symptoms
Almost all varieties of tailbone injuries have similar manifestations. Dislocation of the coccyx from subluxation can be distinguished only on the basis of the results of an X-ray examination. The clinical picture of the pathology is as follows:
- The main sign of dislocation is soreness. It occurs immediately after injury and persists for an extended period of time. The severity of pain can vary. At the initial stage, the pain is sharp and acute, but in the future, with a chronic dislocation of the coccyx, it is described by patients in different ways, since this directly depends on the sensitivity threshold of each person.
- With a fresh injury, the pain is constant and does not subside when changing the position of the body. If we are talking about an old injury, then the intensity of the pain increases when sitting and standing up. At the same time, it ceases to bother when a person is standing or lying. Symptoms of coccyx dislocation are rather unpleasant.
- Pain tends to radiate to the groin and anus.
- An increase in the intensity of the pain syndrome occurs during the act of defecation, when a person begins to push. In this case, the nature of the pain changes, it becomes shooting.
- Palpation of the coccyx or sacrum is also painful.
- A visual examination shows a swelling in the tailbone area, which is characterized by the presence of a hematoma.
Due to pain, the clinical picture with dislocation of the coccyx is not in doubt. Despite this, the diagnosis is not based on patient complaints only. To clarify the diagnosis, the patient should be placed in the department of traumatology for a thorough examination.
Diagnostics
When a patient complains of pain in the coccyx, it is first necessary to conduct a physical examination and collect a detailed history. It is important to find out what led to the dislocation of the coccyx. Visual examination and palpation of the injured area can confirm the complaints made by the patient.
Additional examination
In addition, the doctor will prescribe an additional examination to clarify the type of damage, including:
- A rectal examination involving the insertion of a finger into the rectum to determine the degree of injury to the tailbone. This method will allow you to determine how the tailbone deviated to the side, and to identify the intensity of the pain syndrome and the absence of crunch.
- X-ray examination. An affordable and reliable way to identify a dislocation or subluxation. The picture will show the joints of the coccyx and sacrum.
- Computed and magnetic resonance imaging. They allow you to get the most clear and accurate picture, and it will be layered.
First aid
In the event that a person is injured in the spine in the coccyx or sacrum, it is necessary - as soon as possible - to deliver him to the nearest hospital or emergency room. The specialist will be able to assess the patient’s condition and conduct a full examination to exclude the likelihood of a tailbone fracture, which is a serious injury and will require a long and complicated treatment.
Before getting to a traumatologist, it is possible to carry out a number of independent activities related to first aid to the patient:
- Once the injury has been received, the patient needs to ensure a comfortable body position, in this case lying on his stomach. If you need to roll over, it is important to help the injured person to do this, being careful and not making sudden body movements.
- To relieve soreness and swelling with a complete dislocation of the coccyx, ice can be applied to the injured area.
- If the pain intensifies and becomes unbearable, you can give the patient an analgesic drug, but only after clarification with the patient about an allergic reaction to certain drugs.
- Hospitalization of the patient. In this case, you can either call an ambulance team or deliver the victim to the hospital yourself. Transportation should be carried out by laying a person on his side.
Treatment
Treatment of coccyx dislocation should be done on an outpatient basis. The standard scheme of therapeutic measures involves the following steps:
- Direction of subluxation or dislocation.
- Compliance with bed rest.
- Taking painkillers.
- Conducting anti-inflammatory treatment.
- Healing Fitness.
- Physiotherapeutic procedures.
How is coccyx dislocation corrected?
This should occur under the influence of local anesthesia, as a rule, the choice falls on novocaine blockade. During the procedure, the patient is lying on his stomach, and the specialist compares the surfaces of the joints. After the coccyx is put in place, it is necessary to carry out rehabilitation.
Recovery measures require compliance with bed rest for one week after the dislocation is repaired. You can only lie on your stomach in order to prevent excessive stress on the injured spine. If the patient was diagnosed with subluxation, then he is forbidden to sit during this period. After this period of time is allowed to sit on an orthopedic pillow. The movements should be smooth, this will make it possible to avoid repeated dislocation.
The rehabilitation period, when the patient is severely limited in movement, is up to one month. From painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs, Diclofenac injections can be prescribed, as well as Ibuprofen, Movalis, etc. In childhood, as well as pregnant women, antispasmodics such as No-shpa, Papaverin, etc. are prescribed. d.
Since the act of defecation can be complicated by a dislocation, the patient is prescribed light laxatives during the recovery period, as well as a special diet and drinking regimen. Physiotherapy exercises and physiotherapy are also carried out, which allows to accelerate the rehabilitation process.
The consequences of a dislocation
Any, even the most minor injury to the spine can not go unnoticed for human health. If you do not consult a doctor in a timely manner, immediately after receiving a dislocation of the coccyx (ICD S33.2), a person may receive the following complications:
- The deformation process in the coccyx, accompanied by severe pain.
- Coccyalgia due to the inflammatory process in the nerve endings located close to the damaged area of the spine.
- Violation of labor in women.
- Impaired coccyx.
- Relapse associated with the failure of the ligament apparatus after the first dislocation.
- Chronic pain syndrome.
In order to avoid the above consequences, it is necessary to consult a doctor in a timely manner when injured and undergo the necessary treatment with a recovery period.