Acupuncture is generally regarded as a safe procedure and as a popular treatment for patients with musculoskeletal disorders. We report a case of a 47-year-old male patient with late-onset tetraplegia, developed after acupuncture. He had no trauma, medical, and social history relevant to tetraplegia. Right after the acupuncture, he felt discomfort in his right arm. After 6 days, all 4 extremity weakness developed. Whole-spine magnetic resonance imaging revealed the presence of spinal subdural hematoma extending from the C5 vertebra to the coccyx level. Hand coordination dysfunction, neurogenic bladder, and neuropathic pain were other symptoms. After the management, he recovered muscle strength, but incomplete bladder control and neuralgia were sustained. It is important to be aware of the possibilities of severe complications after acupuncture.
Acupuncture ; Arm ; Coccyx ; Extremities ; Hand ; Hematoma, Subdural, Spinal ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Muscle Strength ; Neuralgia ; Quadriplegia ; Spine ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder, Neurogenic

PURPOSE: Tailgut cysts are rare congenital or developmental lesions that arise from vestiges of the embryological hindgut. They are usually present in the presacral space. We report our single-center experience with managing tailgut cysts. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 24 patients with tailgut cyst treated surgically at the Colorectal Surgery Department of Severance Hospital, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea, between 2007–2018. RESULTS: This study included 24 patients (18 females) with a median age of 51.5 years (range, 21–68 years). Ten cases were symptomatic and 14 were asymptomatic. Cysts were retrorectal in 21 patients. Cysts were below the coccyx level in 16 patients, opposite the coccyx in 6, and above the coccyx in 2. Cysts were supralevator in 5 patients, had a supra- and infralevator extension in 18 patients, and were infralevator in 1. Ten patients were managed using an anterior laparoscopic approach, 11 using a posterior approach, and 3 using a combined approach. Mean cyst size was 5.5 ± 2.7 cm. Postoperative complications were Clavien-Dindo (CD) classification grade II in 9 patients (37.5%) and CD grade III in 1 (4.2%). The posterior approach group showed the highest rate of complications (P = 0.021). Patients managed using a combined approach showed a larger cyst size (P < 0.001), longer operation times (P < 0.001), and a greater likelihood of tumor level above the coccyx (P = 0.002) compared to other approaches. The tumors of 2 male patients were malignant: 1 was a neuroendocrine tumor treated with radiotherapy, while the other was a closely followed adenocarcinoma. Median follow-up was 12 months (range, 1–66 months) with no recurrence. CONCLUSION: Tailgut cysts are uncommon but can cause perineal or pelvic pain. Complete surgical excision via an appropriate approach according to tumor size, location, and correlation with adjacent pelvic floor muscles is the key treatment.
Adenocarcinoma ; Classification ; Coccyx ; Colorectal Surgery ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Muscles ; Neuroendocrine Tumors ; Pelvic Floor ; Pelvic Pain ; Postoperative Complications ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Seoul

Hypomelanosis of Ito (HI) is a neurocutaneous disorder, also known as incontinentia pigmenti achromians. HI has been associated with chromosomal abnormalities, especially mosaicism. Herein, we report a case of HI with multiple congenital anomalies. A 2-month-old girl presented with multiple linear and whorling hypopigmentation on the face, trunk, and both extremities and patch alopecia on the scalp. Moreover, she had conical teeth, aniridia of the both eyes, and multiple musculoskeletal problems, including syndactyly and coccyx deviation. Cytogenetic analysis on peripheral blood was normal 46, XX, and no mutation was found in IKBKG gene test.
Alopecia ; Aniridia ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Coccyx ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Extremities ; Female ; Humans ; Hypopigmentation ; Infant ; Karyotype ; Mosaicism ; Neurocutaneous Syndromes ; Pigmentation Disorders ; Scalp ; Syndactyly ; Tooth

A Morel-Lavallée lesion is a posttraumatic, closed internal degloving injury caused by shearing force abruptly separating the skin and superficial fascia from the deep fascia and creating a potential space. Blood, lymphatic fluid, and debris collect and fill the space. The most commonly affected sites are the thigh, knee, hip, and pelvic area, but the lesion can occur anywhere in the body. Among various treatments, surgical procedure is a good option if the lesion is chronic and a thick peripheral capsule has developed. We report an uncommon case of a chronic Morel-Lavallée lesion in the sacrococcygeal area, a rarely reported location, with an associated coccygeal fracture and dislocation.
Coccyx ; Dislocations ; Fascia ; Hip ; Knee ; Skin ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Thigh

PURPOSE: The filum terminale (FT) is a fibrous band that connects the conus medullaris to the posterior body of the coccyx. Considering the advances of ultrasonography (US) technology and improvements in the resolution of US images, we aimed to re-establish the US features of the normal FT in infants younger than 6 months of age. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 30 spinal US scans, stored as video clips. The internal structure of the FT and the marginal echogenicity of the FT were assessed, and transverse and longitudinal US were compared. RESULTS: On US, a central echogenic line was defined in 18 (60%) normal FTs; however, there was no visible internal structure in 12 cases (40%). The marginal echogenicity of the FT was hyperechoic in eight cases (27%) in comparison with the cauda equina and was isoechoic in 22 cases (73%). In differentiating the normal FT from the surrounding nerve roots, transverse US was superior in 18 cases (60%), while longitudinal US was superior in two cases (7%). CONCLUSION: On US, the central canal of the FT was defined in 60% of normal FTs. Hyperechoic marginal echogenicity and the use of transverse US were helpful in distinguishing the normal FT from the nerve roots of the cauda equina.
Cauda Equina* ; Coccyx ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Cord ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: This 2009–2011 nation-wide study of adult Koreans was aimed to provide characteristics, medical utilization states, and survival rates for newly diagnosed patients with primary nonmalignant and malignant spine tumors. METHODS: Data for patients with primary spine tumors were selected from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database. The data included their age, sex, health insurance type, co-morbidities, medical cost, and hospital stay duration. Hospital stay duration and medical costs per person occurring in one calendar year were used. In addition, survival rates of patients with primary malignant spine tumors were evaluated. RESULTS: The incidence rate of a primary spine tumor increased with age, and the year of diagnosis (p≤0.0001). Average annual medical costs ranged from 1627 USD (pelvis & sacrum & coccyx tumors) to 6601 USD (spinal cord tumor) for primary nonmalignant spine tumor and from 12137 USD (spinal meningomas) to 20825 USD (pelvis & sacrum & coccyx tumors) for a primary malignant spine tumor. Overall survival rates for those with a primary malignant spine tumor were 87.0%, 75.3%, and 70.6% at 3, 12, and 24 months, respectively. The Cox regression model results showed that male sex, medicare insurance were significantly positive factors affecting survival after a diagnosis of primary malignant spine tumor. CONCLUSION: Our study provides a detailed view of the characteristics, medical utilization states, and survival rates of patients newly diagnosed with primary spine tumors in Korea.
Adult* ; Coccyx ; Diagnosis ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Insurance ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Male ; Medicare ; Sacrum ; Spine* ; Survival Rate

STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective, cross-sectional study of 213 patients who presented for abdominal computed tomography (CT) scans to assess coccygeal morphology in the Indian population. PURPOSE: There have been relatively few studies of coccygeal morphology in the normal population and none in the Indian population. We aimed to estimate coccygeal morphometric parameters in the Indian population. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Coccygeal morphology has been studied in European, American, Korean, and Egyptian populations, with few differences in morphology among populations. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 213 abdominal CT scans (114 males and 99 females; age, 7–88 years; mean age, 47.3 years) was performed to evaluate the number of coccygeal segments, coccyx type, sacrococcygeal and intercoccygeal fusion and subluxation, coccygeal spicules, sacrococcygeal straight length, and sacrococcygeal and intercoccygeal curvature angles. Results were analyzed for differences in morphology with respect to sex and coccyx type. RESULTS: Types I and II coccyx were the most common. Most subjects had four coccygeal vertebrae; 93 subjects (43.66%) had partial or complete sacrococcygeal fusion. Intercoccygeal fusion was common, occurring in 193 subjects. Eighteen subjects had coccygeal spicules. The mean coccygeal straight length was 33.8 mm in males and 31.5 mm in females; the mean sacrococcygeal curvature angle was 116.6° in males and 111.6° in females; the mean intercoccygeal curvature angle was 140.94° in males and 145.10° in females. CONCLUSIONS: Type I was the most common coccyx type in our study, as in Egyptian and Western populations. The number of coccygeal vertebrae and prevalence of sacrococcygeal and intercoccygeal fusion in the Indian population were similar to those in the Western population. The mean coccygeal straight length and mean sacrococcygeal curvature angle were higher in males, whereas the intercoccygeal curvature angle was higher in females. Information on similarities and differences in coccygeal morphology between different ethnic populations could be useful in imaging and treating patients presenting with coccydynia.
Asian Americans ; Coccyx ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; India* ; Male ; Multidetector Computed Tomography* ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine ; Tertiary Care Centers* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Antley-Bixler syndrome (ABS) is a rare form of syndromic craniosynostosis with additional systemic synostosis, including radiohumeral or radioulnar synostosis. Another characteristic feature of ABS is mid-facial hypoplasia that leads to airway narrowing after birth. ABS is associated with mutations in the FGFR2 and POR genes. Patients with POR mutations present with either skeletal manifestations or congenital adrenal hyperplasia with ambiguous genitalia. We report here two cases of ABS caused by mutations in FGFR2 and POR. Although the patients had craniosynostosis and radiohumeral synostosis in common and cranioplasty was performed in both cases, the male with POR mutations showed an elevated level of 17α-hydroxyprogesterone during newborn screening and was diagnosed with congenital adrenal hyperplasia by adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation. This patient has been treated with hydrocortisone and fludrocortisone. He had no ambiguous genitalia but had bilateral cryptorchidism. On the other hand, the female with the FGFR2 mutation showed severe clinical manifestations: upper airway narrowing leading to tracheostomy, kyphosis of the cervical spine, and coccyx deformity. ABS shows locus heterogeneity, and mutations in two different genes can cause similar craniofacial and skeletal phenotypes. Because the long-term outcomes and inheritance patterns of the disease differ markedly, depending on the causative mutation, early molecular genetic testing is helpful.
Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital ; Adrenocorticotropic Hormone ; Antley-Bixler Syndrome Phenotype* ; Coccyx ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Craniosynostoses ; Cryptorchidism ; Disorders of Sex Development ; Female ; Fludrocortisone ; Hand ; Humans ; Hydrocortisone ; Infant, Newborn ; Inheritance Patterns ; Kyphosis ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Molecular Biology ; Parturition ; Phenotype ; Population Characteristics ; Spine ; Synostosis ; Tracheostomy

BACKGROUND: The sacrococcygeal morphology of Arabs and Europeans has been studied using computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging to determine the cause of coccydynia. Studies have suggested differences in sacrococcygeal morphology among ethnic groups. However, there are no data on the sacrococcygeal anatomy of Koreans. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 606 pelvic CT scans that were taken at Cheju Halla General Hospital between 2008 and 2014. Fractures of the sacrum or coccyx were excluded. Differences in the sacrococcygeal morphology among age groups stratified by decade of life and between genders were analyzed using sagittal plane pelvic CT scans. The morphological parameters studied were the sacral and coccygeal curved indexes, sacrococcygeal angle, intercoccygeal angle, coccygeal type, coccygeal segmental number, and sacrococcygeal fusion. RESULTS: The average sacral and coccygeal curved indexes were 6.15 and 7.41, respectively. The average sacrococcygeal and intercoccygeal angles were 110° and 49°, respectively. Type II coccyx was most common, and the rate of sacrococcygeal fusion was 34%. There was a moderate positive correlation between age and the sacral curved index (r = 0.493, p = 0.000) and a weak negative correlation between age and the coccyx curved index (r = −0.257, p = 0.000). There was a weak negative correlation between age and the intercoccygeal angle (r = −0.187, p = 0.000). The average intercoccygeal angle in males and females was 53.9° and 44.7°, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The sacrum tended to be more curved and the coccyx straighter with age. The coccyx was straighter in females than males. Knowledge of the sacrococcygeal anatomy of Koreans will promote better understanding of anatomical differences among ethnicities and future studies on coccydynia.
Arabs ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Coccyx ; Ethnic Groups ; Female ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Jeju-do ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Sacrum ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

PURPOSE: This study was done to examine the prophylactic effect of transparent film dressing on the sacrum and coccyx sites to reduce pressure ulcers. METHODS: The participants were 317 patients admitted to an SICU in Seoul, Korea. Of the patients, 175 were assigned to the experimental group and 142 to the control group. For participants in the experimental group, a prophylactic transparent film dressing was applied on the sacrum and coccyx. The control group received the usual care. The nurses checked for pressure ulcers on the sacrum and coccyx at least once every duty. When pressure ulcer occurred, it reported on the record form. The results were analyzed using Poisson and Hierarchical logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence and risk of pressure ulcer was lower in the experimental group compared to the control group but the difference was not significant. The ICU length of stay was significantly associated with pressure ulcer risk. CONCLUSION: Findings indicate that prophylactic transparent film dressing helps to reduce pressure ulcer in SICU patients.
Bandages* ; Coccyx* ; Critical Care Nursing ; Humans ; Korea ; Length of Stay ; Logistic Models ; Pressure Ulcer ; Prevalence ; Sacrum* ; Seoul ; Skin Care