title: Reduced local perfusion after shock wave treatment of rotator cuff tendinopathy.
abstract: A marked neovascularity has been demonstrated in tendinopathies, due to the inflammatory-degenerative process. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) on tissue perfusion in the treatment of tendinopathy. An observational clinical study was made of 30 patients undergoing ESWT for tendinopathy of the rotator cuff. A clinical improvement was obtained in 65.6% of patients at 2 and 6 months. This was associated with a statistically significant reduction in the oxygen tissue saturation, measured by oxymetry that was apparent already during treatment, as well as at subsequent follow-up visits. The reduced perfusion achieved with ESWT supports the hypothesis that this treatment can regulate the inflammatory process and offset increased vascularization, restoring physiologic tendon conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Methodology and Surgical Techniques, Orthopedics Section, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of University of Bari, General Hospital, Bari, Italy. angelanotarnicola@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Notarnicola
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: Silvio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tafuri
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Forcignanò
authors.forename: Vito
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Pesce
authors.forename: Biagio
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Moretti
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000528:radiation effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism*; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D010100:Oxygen