[Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) in tendinosis calcarea of the rotator cuff. Long-term results and efficacy]

Abstract

Calcifying tendinitis (TC) of the rotator cuff is a transient shoulder disease with a high rate of spontaneous resorption of the deposit. Therefore, primary treatment should be conservative. In cases of persistent pain despite conservative treatment, extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) can be performed as an alternative minimally invasive method. Various short-term studies have demonstrated the efficiency of ESWT for TC. To evaluate the short- and long-term results, complications, and the number of operations avoided by ESWT, a prospective study with 115 patients was performed over a period of 4 years. The patients had received high-energy ESWT once (group A: n = 56) or twice (group B: n = 59). Six months after therapy, 47% in group A and 77% in group B showed evidence of disappearance or disintegration of the calcium deposits. Pain relief was achieved in 45% of group A and 53% of group B. Four years after treatment, 20% of the patients had undergone surgery on the involved shoulder. Of the remaining patients, 59% (68 patients) were seen for follow-up. Subjectively, 78% of group A and 87% of group B judged the treatment to be successful. X-ray examination revealed complete or partial resorption of the calcium deposit in 93% in both groups. The Constant score increased from 45 before treatment to 88 in group A and 85 in group B after treatment. ESWT was successful for about 70% of the treated patients with no long-term complications seen.