Coccygotomy

To perform the operation a long thin tenotomy knife is inserted near the tip of the coccyx, passed along the posterior aspect of the bone, and used to divide the muscular and tendinous attachments on both sides, and all round the tip of it. Simpson described coccygotomy as simple, easy and rapid compared to the more radical measure of coccygectomy. Simpson did not use anesthesia, The surgeon Richard Barwell introduced a modified version of the operation which in some cases included inserting the knife a little above the tip of the sacrum, and dividing the soft parts transversely down to the bone. == Complications and risks ==

As with any operation under anesthetic, there are risks associated with general anesthesia itself. An additional possible complication of coccygotomy is infection at the surgical site, due to the site's proximity to the anus, which may lead to contamination by bacteria from the patient's feces, as has been found with coccygectomy. == Success rates ==

There is little numerical information on success rates. Simpson reported that that coccygotomy was successful in almost every case, and in only a few cases did he need to follow up with coccygectomy. and has sometimes been used more recently as part of other procedures. == References ==