Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery
Original articleArthroscopic Treatment of Chronically Painful Calcifying Tendinitis of the Supraspinatus Tendon
Section snippets
Methods
There were 58 consecutive patients who underwent surgery over a 3-year period (January 1998 to December 2000) enrolled in the study (26 women, 32 men) with a mean age of 45.4 years (range, 29 to 62 years); 54 patients (93%) were available at follow-up. The dominant arm was affected in 29 patients (54%). In 28 patients (52%), the calcification was located in the right shoulder. Preoperative pain had lasted for 4.4 (±3.3) years on average.
Clinical Results
Intraoperatively, an intra-articular synovitis of the rotator interval could be found in 7 patients (12%) and an articular sided tear of the supraspinatus tendon in 5 patients (9%). A hypertrophic bursitis was present in 28 patients (52%).
The Constant score improved from 32.8 points (±19.8) preoperatively to 90.9 points (±13.0) at 24 months (P < .001). There was no change in shoulder function between 12 and 24 months. Shoulder function was not related to the length of preoperative pain, the
Discussion
Shoulder function and patient satisfaction were excellent in more than 90% of the patients, with an average Constant score of 91. This confirmed the results of previously published studies of arthroscopic deposit removal7, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17 (Table 1). The reported results of open procedures were similar. Gazielly et al.18 reported a Constant score of 85 after open excision of the calcification and acromioplasty; 82% of their patients graded the result as excellent. Rubenthaler and Wittenberg19
Conclusions
This study confirmed that if conservative treatment fails, arthroscopic treatment of chronically painful calcific tendinitis of the rotator cuff promises to be successful in more than 90% of the patients. Pain relief after surgery is often slowly progressive and may extend over a period of 1 year. Despite this prolonged recovery period, most of the patients are able to return to work within 6 weeks. Ultrasonographic changes of the supraspinatus tendon are still visible in more than half of the
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