Clinical Outcomes of Arthroscopic Treatment of Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder

Kang, Jong Won; Shin, Sang Yeop; Song, In Soo; Ahn, Chi Hoon

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Our study aimed to make a comparative analysis of clinical outcomes of arthroscopic decompression for rotator cuff calcific tendinitis by location of calcific deposits and by its size.
METHODS
We enrolled a total of 38 patients, comprising 39 affected shoulders, who underwent arthroscopic decompression for calcific tendinitis. As our clinical scores, we evaluated the UCLA, the ASES, and the VAS scores and analyzed them by calcific location, by calcific deposit size, by the presence or absence of calcific remnants, and by whether concomitant cuff repair was performed.
RESULTS
The clinical scores of those whose calcific deposit had an area greater than 77.0 mm2 and of those whose calcific deposit had an area smaller than 77.0 mm2 did not significantly differ (p=0.21 in ASES; p=0.19 in UCLA; p=0.17 in VAS). Nor did the clinical scores significantly differ with respect to the location of calcification (p=0.23). Further, the clinical scores did not significantly differ between those who had calcific remnants and those who did not and between those who received additional cuff repair and those who did not.
CONCLUSIONS
We found that the clinical outcomes after arthroscopic decompression of calcific tendinitis were not significantly associated with the cuff tendon in which the calcium deposits are found; the location of the calcium deposits in the supraspinatus tendon (if found in this tendon); the size of calcific deposits; the presence of calcific remnants; and concomitant cuff repairs.