Tailbone trauma is any injury that occurs to the coccyx or tailbone, which is found at the base of the spine.
Usually, tailbone trauma occurs when a person falls backward onto the tailbone and lands on a hard surface. This happens more often to elderly people. It is also more likely to occur when walking on very slick surfaces, such as a wet or polished floor or ice.
Tailbone trauma may also be caused by a direct blow to the area or by strain during childbirth.
The factors that increase an individual's risk for tailbone trauma include the following: