title: Arthroscopic treatment of calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder: clinical and ultrasonographic follow-up findings at two to five years.
abstract: From 1996 to 1999, 95 shoulders with calcifying tendinitis of the rotator cuff were treated arthroscopically by the same surgeon and assigned to the same rehabilitation program. The 63 patients matching the inclusion criteria were reviewed after a mean follow-up of 36 months. Preoperative and postoperative clinical functional assessment was performed separately by the same three surgeons using the Constant method. The Pearson correlation coefficient was used to verify interobserver variability and to correlate the presence of residual calcifications with follow-up Constant scores and preoperative ultrasound findings. At 24 months, improved Constant scores were inversely related to the number and size of residual calcifications in all patients. Ultrasound examination showed no cuff tears. As outcome seemed to relate strongly only to the presence of residual calcium deposits in the tendon, their complete removal is recommended.
authors.affiliation: Unit of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery, Casa di Cura--Villa Serena, Centro di Chirurgia della Spalla e del Gomito, Forlì, Italy. shoulder@orthoweb.net
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Porcellini
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paladini
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Campi
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paganelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001182:Arthroscopy; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000473:pathology*; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D014463:Ultrasonography