Coccygectomy with or without periosteal resection

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Surgical Innovation
• Patient Outcomes

Background:

• Coccygectomy is a surgical procedure to remove part or all of the coccyx.
• Wound complications can impact recovery after coccygectomy.
• The role of periosteal preservation in coccygectomy outcomes is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare clinical outcomes and wound complications between coccygectomy with and without subperiosteal resection.
• To evaluate the impact of periosteal preservation on infection rates and patient satisfaction.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective study of 25 patients undergoing coccygectomy.
• Group 1: Complete coccygeal segment resection including periosteum (n=11).
• Group 2: Subperiosteal resection sparing the periosteum (n=14).
• Pain assessed using Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) in sitting and standing positions.
• Subjective patient satisfaction evaluated via questionnaire.

Main Results:

• Both techniques yielded statistically similar clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction.
• Overall, 84% of patients experienced surgical benefit.
• Group 1 had a statistically higher rate of wound infections (4 cases) compared to Group 2.
• Infections in Group 1 included two superficial and two deep cases, leading to delayed wound healing.

Conclusions:

• Periosteal preservation during coccygectomy is associated with a lower risk of wound infection.
• Sparing the periosteum may be a beneficial surgical modification for coccygectomy.
• Further research can explore long-term impacts of periosteal preservation on coccygectomy outcomes.