[The effectiveness of radiation treatment in comparison with extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) in supraspinatus tendon syndrome].
OBJECTIVE
Supraspinatus tendinitis is usually treated by antiinflammatoric drugs, local injections, physiotherapy or low-dose irradiation. A novel approach is the use of Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) if conservative therapies have failed. So far there has been no controlled study comparing the effectiveness of ESWT with an established conservative method of therapy such as X-ray stimulation radiotherapy.


METHODS
30 patients with chronic supraspinatus tendinitis were admitted into the prospective randomized study. After randomization the patients were treated either with X-ray stimulation radiotherapy with 6 x 0.5 Gy on the ICRU reference point (1 fraction/day) with cobalt 60 gamma rays or three times with 2000 pulses (energy flux density ED+ 0.1 mJ/mm2) in 1 week intervals using a Storz Minilith SL1. Primary endpoint was the age-corrected constant score 3 months after intervention.


RESULTS
Acute side effects caused by the irradiation were not observed, as expected. One patient described pain and one patient showed a moderate skin irritation after ESWT. In the radiotherapy group average the age-corrected constant score improved from 47.6 through 79.5 points to 87.4 points. In the ESWT group it rose from 50.1 points before ESWT to 91.4 points after 12 weeks and 97.8 after 52 weeks.


CONCLUSIONS
No statistically significant differences were proven between ESWT and radiotherapy. ESWT appears to be equivalent but not superior to radiotherapy in treating chronic supraspinatus tendinitis syndrome. A comprehensive randomized study is, however, necessary to ensure the equivalence of ESWT.
Klinik für Strahlentherapie und Radioonkologie, Philipps-Universität Marburg. gross@mailer.uni-marburg.de
Markus W
MW
Gross
Almut
A
Sattler
Michael
M
Haake
Jan
J
Schmitt
Ralf
R
Hildebrandt
Hans-Helge
HH
Müller
Rita
R
Engenhart-Cabillic
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019583:Dose Fractionation, Radiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011867:Radioisotope Teletherapy; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D019534:Shoulder Impingement Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000532:radiotherapy*
D003037:Cobalt Radioisotopes