[Close needling for the treatment of calcifying tendinitis].
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of close needling in the treatment of calcifying tendonitis.


METHODS
Seventeen patients with calcifying tendonitis who had received close needling treatment were followed-up for 9.3 months on average. An 18-gauge or 16-gauge needle was used during needling. X-ray examination was given 4, 6, 8 and every 4 weeks after needling. SST (simple shoulder test) questionnaire, ASES (American Shoulder & Elbow Surgeon) score, constant-Murley score and UCLA score were adopted for evaluation before and after treatment.


RESULTS
Calcium deposition disappeared within 4 - 20 weeks mean 9.4 weeks in 15 of the 17 patients after needling for 1 - 3 times. Average ASES score before treatment was 47.7 (34 - 59), forward elevation was 90 degrees (70 degrees - 100 degrees ), external rotation was 15 degrees (0 degrees - 30 degrees ), and internal rotation was L3-4 (L1-buttock). Average constant-Murley score before treatment was 44.6 (34 - 54), UCLA score was 11.6 (8 - 15), and numbers of questions for "yes" in SST questionnaire was 3.4 (2 - 5). After needling the average ASES score was 87.1 (72 - 91), forward elevation was 143.5 degrees (120 degrees - 160 degrees ), external rotation was 40 degrees (30 degrees - 50 degrees ), internal rotation was T(8)-T(9), constant-Murley score was 87.8 (64 - 94), UCLA score was 29.5 (19 - 33), and numbers of questions for "yes" in SST questionnaire was 9.1 (6 - 12). Significant difference was found between before and after needling (ASES: P < 0.01, forward elevation, external rotation and internal rotation: P < 0.01, constant-Murley: P < 0.01, UCLA: P < 0.01, SST: P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Close needling is an effective method for the treatment of calcifying tendonitis. Symptoms and disability are greatly relieved non-surgically in most of patients. Care should be taken in differential diagnosis of degenerative calcification in chronic rotator cuff disease.
Jiang
Chun-yan
CY
Shoulder Service, Department of Orthopedic and Trauma, Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Beijing 100035, China.
Geng
Xiang-su
XS
Wang
Man-yi
MY
Rong
Guo-wei
GW
Flatow
Evan L
EL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods*; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000294:innervation; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome