Early clinical results of intracoxygeal impar ganglion block for patients with persistent posttraumatic coccydynia

Abstract

Background/Aims: Coxadini is a painful disease of the vertebral apex whose most common aetiological cause is direct-indirect trauma. While in acute cases cure is usually achieved with conservative treatment, in persistent cases interventional treatment methods come to the fore. Injections are often used when there is no response to conservative treatment. Injections can be given either directly into the posterior coccygeal region under fluoroscopic guidance or into the precoccygeal region. The most commonly favoured precoccygeal block is the impar ganglion block. In our study, we aimed to analyse the pain and sleep quality of patients who had undergone ganglion impar blockade at the end of the one-year follow-up. Material and Methods: Patients who presented with coxadinia between October 2019 and April 2021 were retrospectively analysed. Patients who did not respond to conservative treatment, were over 18 years of age at the time of the procedure, had symptoms that persisted for more than 6 months and agreed to participate in the study were included in the study. The VAS, SF-36 and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index measurements recorded at the first examination of the patients were analysed. All patients were called in for a final follow-up 12 months after the injection and the VAS, SF-36 and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index assessments were repeated. Results: 20 patients (17F / 3M) were included in our study. The mean age of my patients at the time of intervention was 41.05 ± 11.27. The mean time from symptom onset to intervention was 22.25 ± 17.06 weeks. There was a significant decrease in VAS scores, and significant improvement in SF-36 subcategories and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scores. (p < 0.001) Conclusion: Ganglion impar injection is a treatment method that can help relieve pain, improve sleep quality and daily-life functions in cases that do not respond to medical treatment and lifestyle changes