Shock wave therapy for calcific tendinitis of the shoulder: a prospective clinical study with two-year follow-up.
BACKGROUND
Shock wave therapy is a new modality that has shown efficacy in the treatment of various orthopaedic disorders.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness, at 2- to 3-year follow-up, of shock wave therapy for calcific tendinitis of the shoulder.


METHODS
Prospective clinical study.


METHODS
Thirty-seven patients (39 shoulders) with calcific shoulder tendinitis were treated with shock wave therapy (1000 impulses at 14 kV) and observed for 24 to 30 months. The control group, which underwent sham treatment with a dummy electrode, consisted of 6 patients (6 shoulders) with an average follow-up of 6 months. Evaluation included use of the 100-point Constant score system and shoulder radiographs.


RESULTS
The overall results in the study group were 60.6% excellent (20 of 33 shoulders), 30.3% good (10), 3.0% fair (1), and 6.1% poor (2), and those of the control group were 16.7% fair (1 of 6 shoulders) and 83.3% poor (5). The symptom recurrence rate in the study group was 6.5%. Dissolution of calcium deposits was complete in 57.6% of the study group, partial in 15.1%, and unchanged in 27.3%. Fragmentation was seen in 16.7% of the control group patients; in 83.3% deposits were unchanged. No recurrence of calcium deposits was observed during the 2 years that the study group was followed.


CONCLUSIONS
Shock wave therapy is a safe and effective noninvasive treatment for patients with calcific tendinitis of the shoulder.
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital/Kaohsiung Medical Center, Kaohsiung, Taiwan.
Ching-Jen
CJ
Wang
Kuender D
KD
Yang
Feng-Sheng
FS
Wang
Han-Hsiang
HH
Chen
Jun-Wen
JW
Wang
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D019220:High-Energy Shock Waves / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012785:Shoulder Joint; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000628:therapy*; D013710:Tendons; D016896:Treatment Outcome