[Significance of calcium deposit elimination in tendinosis calcarea of the shoulder].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of complete elimination of the calcific deposit on the clinical outcome in patients with a recalcitrant calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder.


METHODS
50 patients with a chronic calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder (Type Gärtner I or II) underwent a single application of extracorporeal shock waves (3000 impulses, energy flux density 0.60 mJ/mm2). After one year 45 patients were evaluated radiologically and clinically.


RESULTS
Radiologically a complete absorption of the calcific deposit was observed in 21 patients (47%). In 9 patients there was no radiological change. The radiological success was closely related to the radiomorphology of the deposit. 18 out of 27 good or excellent results were accompanied by a complete disintegration of the deposit. We calculated a significant dependency between complete disintegration of the deposit and a good/excellent clinical result (p = 0.0002). Patients with a completely disintegrated deposit had significantly better scores than those with a partial disintegration of the calcium (p = 0.02), and than those with no radiomorphological changes (p = 0.0003). Spearman's correlation coefficient was 0.6.


CONCLUSIONS
Elimination of the deposit is paramount for a good clinical outcome and should be the main goal for any treatment.
Rompe
J D
JD
Orthopädische Klinik, Johannes-Gutenberg-Universität Mainz.
Zöllner
J
J
Nafe
B
B
Freitag
C
C
D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D019534:Shoulder Impingement Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome