Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2022 Feb 4;122(3):141-151.
doi: 10.1515/jom-2021-0213.

Clinical evaluation and management of calcific tendinopathy: an evidence-based review

Michael Catapano  1 , David M Robinson  2 , Sean Schowalter  1 , Kelly C McInnis  3
Affiliations
Free article
Review

Clinical evaluation and management of calcific tendinopathy: an evidence-based review

Michael Catapano et al. J Osteopath Med. .
Free article

Abstract

Calcific tendinopathy (CT) is an important musculoskeletal condition most commonly seen in the shoulder girdle, accounting for 10-42% of all shoulder pain. Despite the high prevalence within the shoulder region, CT has been demonstrated in many tendons throughout the axial and appendicular skeleton. Unlike degenerative tendinopathies, CT appears to be a self-limiting condition that affects otherwise-healthy tendon with deposition of calcium hydroxyapatite crystals between healthy tenocytes. In patients with functionally limiting symptoms or pain, the clinical course may be accelerated through a multitude of treatments including physical therapy and pain management, extracorporeal shock wave therapy, ultrasound-guided percutaneous lavage (UGPL), and operative debridement. Currently, the most efficacious and frequently utilized treatment for shoulder CT is UGPL due to its ability to effectively reduce calcium burden and pain while limiting soft-tissue damage. However, more evidence regarding the treatment and course of CT is needed before determining the most appropriate treatment at all potential sites of CT.

Keywords: calcific tendinopathy; calcific tendonitis; evaluation; treatment; ultrasound.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Riley, GP, Harrall, RL, Constant, CR, Cawston, TE, Hazleman, BL. Prevalence and possible pathological significance of calcium phosphate salt accumulation in tendon matrix degeneration. Ann Rheum Dis 1996;55:109–15. https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.55.2.109.
    1. Uhthoff, HK, Loehr, JW. Calcific tendinopathy of the rotator cuff: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 1997;5:183–91. https://doi.org/10.5435/00124635-199707000-00001.
    1. Draghi, F, Cocco, G, Lomoro, P, Bortolotto, C, Schiavone, C. Non-rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy: ultrasonographic diagnosis and treatment. J Ultrasound 2020;23:301–15. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-019-00393-2.
    1. Darrieutort-Laffite, C, Blanchard, F, Le Goff, B. Calcific tendonitis of the rotator cuff: from formation to resorption. Jt Bone Spine 2018;85:687–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbspin.2017.10.004.
    1. Sansone, V, Consonni, O, Maiorano, E, Meroni, R, Goddi, A. Calcific tendinopathy of the rotator cuff: the correlation between pain and imaging features in symptomatic and asymptomatic female shoulders. Skeletal Radiol 2016;45:49–55. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-015-2240-3.

LinkOut - more resources