EVALUATION OF COCCYX MORPHOLOGY WITH MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING IN CHILDHOOD AGE

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: The coccyx is a triangular bone located in distal of the vertebral column, articulating with the lower end of the sacrum, and often consisting of 3 or 4 vertebral segments. The aim of this study is to evaluate coccyx morphology and morphometry in the childhood age group with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, children who had lumbosacral or pelvic MRI in our hospital between January 2020 and January 2021 were included. In mid-sagittal, T1-weighted MRI sections, where the sacral and coccygeal vertebrae are best visualized, the alignment of the vertebrae, the presence/absence of listezis, and the number of coccyx vertebrae were recorded. In addition, linear coccyx length, sacrococcygeal angle, sacrococcygeal joint angle and intercoccygeal angle were measured in the same section in the morphometric evaluation.RESULTS: A total of 47 patients (36 girls, 11 boys) were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 13.7±2.1. Among female and male patients and between different age groups (group 1: 7-10 years, group 2: 11-13 years, group 3: 14-16 years); There was no significant difference between coccyx length, sacrococcygeal angle, sacrococcygeal joint angle, and intercoccygeal angle (p= 0.728, p=0.262, p=0.105 and p=0.191, p= 0.684, p=0.927, respectively).CONCLUSIONS: According to this study, when the sacrococcygeal angle, sacrococcygeal joint angle and intercoccygeal angles were evaluated in the childhood age group, no difference was found between male and female patients and between different age groups. Knowing the morphological features of the coccyx in the childhood age group will facilitate the evaluation of diseases.