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Tailbone (Coccyx) Injury

Tailbone Injury Overview

The coccyx, or tailbone, is the triangular bony structure located at the bottom of the vertebral column. It is composed of three to five bony segments held in place by joints and ligaments.

A coccyx or tailbone injury results in pain and discomfort in the tailbone area (the condition is called coccydynia). These injuries may result in a bruise, dislocation, or break (fracture) of the coccyx. Although they may be slow to heal, the majority of coccyx injuries can be managed with conservative treatment.

The majority of coccyx injuries occur in women because the female pelvis is broader, and the coccyx is more exposed.



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Tailbone (Coccyx) Injury

Bicycle Safety Overview

Bicycling is a common means of transportation as well as an increasingly popular source of recreation, exercise, and sport. Nearly 45 million Americans rode a bicycle six times or more in 2008, according to the National Sporting Goods Association.

  • Along with increased use of bicycles comes the risk of significant injuries. Bicycle outings result in more than 500,000 visits each year to Emergency Departments, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Injuries attributable to bicycling range from common abrasions, cuts, and bruises to broken bones, internal injuries, head trauma, and even death.

  • Almost 700 bicyclists died in 2007, and 43,000 were injured, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. From a statistical standpoint, bicycle riding has a higher death rate per trip or per mile of travel than being a passenger in an automobile.
    ...

Read the Bicycle Safety article »



Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine

Coccyx Pain »

Coccyx pain (tailbone pain) can frustrate patients and significantly impair quality of life, but relief is possible.

Read More on eMedicine »

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