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.

Fractures

If more pressure is put on a bone than it can stand, it will split or break. A break of any size is called a fracture. If the broken bone punctures...

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Bruising

Bleeding into the skin can occur from broken blood vessels that form tiny red dots (called petechiae). Blood also can collect under the tissue in la...

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Causes

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

Symptoms

Symptoms include:

• Bruising on the lower part of the spine
• Pain when sitting or putting pressure on the tailbone

First Aid

For tailbone trauma when no spinal cord injury is suspected:

Spinal cord injury

Spinal cord trauma is damage to the spinal cord. It may result from direct injury to the cord itself or indirectly from disease of the nearby bones,...

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• Relieve pressure on the tailbone by sitting on an inflatable rubber ring or cushions.
• Take acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB) for pain.
• Take a stool softener to avoid constipation.

If you suspect injury to the neck or spine, DO NOT attempt to move the person.

Do Not

DO NOT attempt to move the person if you think there may be injury to the spinal cord.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call 911 or the local emergency number for immediate medical help if:

• Spinal cord injury is suspected
• The person can't move
• Pain is severe

Prevention

Keys to preventing tailbone trauma include:

• DO NOT run on slippery surfaces, such as around a swimming pool.
• Dress in shoes with good tread or slip-resistant soles, especially in snow or on ice.

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