Rotator cuff calcifications: treatment with US-guided technique

Abstract

Purpose: The authors developed and tested a technique to treat calcific tendinitis in the rotator cuff with multiple needle punctures, aspiration, and lavage under ultrasonographic (US) guidance.

Materials and methods: Atraumatic pain in the shoulders of a 46-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man was resistant to conservative therapy. With local anesthesia and continuous three-dimensional US visualization, the tips of two 18-gauge needles were placed within the calcification in the rotator cuff. Saline solution was injected and aspirated with the needles until the aspirate was free of calcific particles.

Results: Both patients experienced complete relief of pain and recovery of full range of motion, one on the 3rd day after treatment and one within 15 minutes.

Conclusion: Use of this US-guided technique is successful to treat calcific tendinitis in the rotator cuff without the radiation exposure of fluoroscopic guidance.