It is considered a required treatment for sacrococcygeal teratoma and other germ cell tumors arising from the coccyx.
However, the use of prophylactic antibiotics, preoperative rectal enema, closure of the wound in two layers and use of a topical skin adhesive have been shown to reduce the rate of infection to 0%.
[5][6][7] The coccygectomy operation had a poor reputation in the past, and some doctors still advise that the surgery should be avoided.
However current data from clinical trials reports success rates of 50 up to 90%, a percentage that rises to 80-90% in patients that are considered to be 'good candidates' for this kind of surgery.
A study that was published in 2001 covering a total of 702 patients found good or excellent results in 83% of cases.