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Review
. 2016 Mar;17(1):7-14.
doi: 10.1007/s10195-015-0367-6. Epub 2015 Jul 12.

Calcific tendinitis of the rotator cuff: state of the art in diagnosis and treatment

Giovanni Merolla  1   2 , Sanjay Singh  3 , Paolo Paladini  3 , Giuseppe Porcellini  3
Affiliations
Review

Calcific tendinitis of the rotator cuff: state of the art in diagnosis and treatment

Giovanni Merolla et al. J Orthop Traumatol. 2016 Mar.

Abstract

Calcific tendinitis is a painful shoulder disorder characterised by either single or multiple deposits in the rotator cuff tendon. Although the disease subsides spontaneously in most cases, a subpopulation of patients continue to complain of pain and shoulder dysfunction and the deposits do not show any signs of resolution. Although several treatment options have been proposed, clinical results are controversial and often the indication for a given therapy remains a matter of clinician choice. Herein, we report on the current state of the art in the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of calcific tendinitis of the rotator cuff.

Keywords: Calcific tendinitis; Diagnosis; Rotator cuff; Shoulder; Treatment options.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
A case with acute calcifying tendinitis of the rotator cuff. (a) X-ray shows a large calcium deposit (>1.5 cm) at the insertion of the supraspinatus tendon in touch with the greater tuberosity; (b) ultrasound image in the same patient as a demonstrates a large fragmented and punctate calcification (dotted line) with hypoechoic area indicating oedema associated with the reabsorptive phase (white arrows); (c) ultrasound-guided needling and lavage in the same case as a and b with an abundant leakage of calcium (the window on the left shows the calcium aspirated in a syringe)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Coronal fatty suppressed MRI reveals a focus of chronic calcification with associated full-thickness supraspinatus tendon tear (white arrows)
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
(a) Arthroscopic findings shows a complete insertional supraspinatus tendon tear after complete removal of a calcium deposit; (b) supraspinatus tendon-to-bone repair with a double suture anchor at the end of the arthroscopic procedure
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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