Wedgie-Associated Radiculitis in a Quinquagenarian

Abstract

Wedgies—the upward yanking of another's underpants from the rear to wedge them between the buttocks—can be administered playfully, maliciously, or adventurously; at forces ranging from gentle to “atomic”; and with or without the foreknowledge or consent of the recipient. Wedgies have been documented anecdotally in the popular Internet literature, with chief emphasis on their sensation-seeking or momentary entertainment value to the giver and recipient. Most participants are typically young; however, we report the case of a 50-year-old man who sustained chronic, painless radiculitis after he received an unanticipated wedgie of moderate force. This report—apparently the first of its kind in the medical literature—serves as notice that exchanging wedgies is not merely a juvenile act or immature prank: the outcome can be injurious.