title: Evaluating the long-term effect of ultrasound-guided needle puncture without aspiration on calcifying supraspinatus tendinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to evaluate whether aspiration affects patient outcome during ultrasound-guided needle puncture treatment for calcifying supraspinatus tendinitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-one patients with calcifying supraspinatus tendinitis received needle puncture therapy under ultrasonography guidance. Group A received ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle punctures and aspiration of calcareous deposits, while Group B received ultrasound-guided punctures only. Patients were evaluated using a visual analog scale (VAS) for pain, shoulder function, and satisfaction 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 weeks after treatment. The different VAS parameters were combined and the differences between groups were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both groups, VAS scores significantly decreased over the 36 weeks following treatment (P<0.05). Overall, the majority (6/7) of the VAS scores were not statistically different between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the study suggest that aspirating calcified deposits do not affect patient outcome. Puncturing the calcified deposits (without aspiration) appears to be an effective treatment method for calcifying supraspinatus tendinitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ultrasound in Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Affiliated Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jiaan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Yeqing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Yizhou
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Chunyan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011677:Punctures; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D014463:Ultrasonography