title: Calcific tendinitis of the shoulder.
abstract: Calcific tendinitis is a common disease that predominantly affects individuals aged between 40 and 60 years. Women seem to be more affected than men. Various factors have been suggested to play a role in this condition, such as abnormal activity of the thyroid gland, metabolic diseases (e.g. diabetes), and genetic predisposition. Various etiological hypotheses have been advanced: the degenerative and multiphasic theories are the two most accredited ones. Clinically, calcific tendinitis is characterized by severe, disabling pain which occurs spontaneously, usually in the morning. There can be concomitant stiffness, giving rise to a frozen shoulder-like clinical picture. Conventional radiography of the shoulder is the most appropriate imaging approach. Most cases resolve spontaneously. Many conservative treatments have been reported in the literature, showing varying levels of evidence of efficacy. Arthroscopic surgery is the orthopedic specialist's last option. It is to be noted that post-surgical pain can persist for many weeks after the operation. Finally, it is important not to forget the variant characterized by osteolytic involvement of the greater tuberosity, which has been associated with a worse clinical outcome, both after conservative treatment and after surgery.
authors.affiliation: II Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, "Sapienza" University of Rome, S. Andrea University Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: DE Carli
authors.affiliation: II Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, "Sapienza" University of Rome, S. Andrea University Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Ferdinando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pulcinelli
authors.affiliation: Shoulder and Elbow Unit, Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giacomo Delle
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, University of Catania, Vittorio Emanuele Hospital, Catania, Italy.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pitino
authors.affiliation: II Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, "Sapienza" University of Rome, S. Andrea University Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferretti
keywords: arthroscopy; calcific tendinitis; calcium deposit; rotator cuff; shoulder