Surgical management of calcific tendinitis of the shoulder: an analysis of 26 cases

• Published in: Clinical rheumatology 1999-01, Vol.18 (4), p.313-316
• Main Authors: Rochwerger, A, Franceschi, J P, Viton, J M, Roux, H, Mattei, J P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acromion - diagnostic imaging; Acromion - surgery; Adult; Aged; Arthrography; Arthroplasty - methods; Calcinosis - complications; Calcinosis - diagnostic imaging; Calcinosis - surgery; Disease Progression; Female; Humans; Length of Stay; Male; Middle Aged; Pain Measurement; Retrospective Studies; Rotator Cuff - diagnostic imaging; Rotator Cuff - surgery; Shoulder Pain - diagnostic imaging; Shoulder Pain - etiology; Shoulder Pain - surgery; Surveys and Questionnaires; Tendinopathy - complications; Tendinopathy - diagnostic imaging; Tendinopathy - surgery; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0770-3198; 1434-9949
• DOI: 10.1007/s100670050108

Chronic calcific tendinitis of the shoulder has good results after medical treatment in most cases. Around 10% of the patients resistant to medical treatment require surgery. We report 22 patients operated on using an open procedure. The operation included removal of the calcific deposit and an acromioplasty. The patients were rated preoperatively and postoperatively for pain, limitations in activities of daily living, range of movement and power according to a questionnaire and the Constant assessment. Globally the average score increased from 52.2 points out of 100 at the preoperative examination to 89.3 postoperatively with a mean follow up of 23 months. The most favourable results are obtained in patients with the longest interval between onset of disease and intervention (over 1 year) and with a progressive course of disease. Different techniques are discussed. Arthroscopically assisted procedures and open techniques are compared.