RESUMEN
To evaluate the functional and radiologic outcomes of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in shoulders with chronic calcific tendinitis. We report a retrospective study to compare the outcome after ESWT (group l, 15 cases) with the effect of medication treatment (group 2, 15 cases) in patients with chronic calcific tendinitis. Patients were aged 42 to 58 years, mean of 48 years and treated with extracorporeal shock waves or medication from September 2012 to May 2014. The ESWT was performed six cycles of shock waves, weekly treatment for the three cycles and the rest cycles after 2 weeks of pause. In the same period, there were 12 women and 3 men treated with medication treatment for calcific tendinitis. The clinical outcomes were evaluated according to Constant and Murley score and pain visual analogue scale. Radiologic evaluation was performed to confirm disintegration of calcific deposits 3 months and 6 months after treatment. Clinical outcomes were significantly improved in ESWT group, and there was significant difference between ESWT group and medication group. In radiographic evaluation, the calcific deposit was significantly decreased in ESWT group. ESWT therapy is more effective to achieve functional improvement and to alleviate pain in the patients with calcific tendinitis of the shoulder.