Conservative and Arthroscopic Treatment of Calcific Tendinitis

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We evaluated calcium resolution and clinical improvement of calcific tendinitis after conservative and arthroscopic treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed 126 patients of calcific tendinitis treated from January,2002 to April, 2005. Average age was 53 and female dominant in 77% of the cases. Calcium deposits were involved in supraspinatus tendon in 84% of the cases. We compared clinical changes for 64 cases treated with injection, and 12 cases treated by arthroscopic decompression with 6 month follow-up. RESULTS: 77%(49/64)of the cases with steroid injection showed symptom improvement. Even though complete resolution of calcific deposit occurred in 36%(23/64), incomplete resolution in 17%(11/64) and no change in 47%(30/64), Pain was relieved in 87%(20/23), 82%(9/11) and 67%(20/30), respectively. With arthroscopic treatment, calcium deposit completely resolved in 83%(10/12), and all cases showed pain free motion after 6 months. CONCLUSION: Conservative treatment with steroid injection was effective for acute pain in resorptive phase. In cases of arthroscopic treatment, there was no need for complete removal of calcium deposit during the procedure, but clinical symptoms improved with resolution of the deposit.