title: Radiological and clinical predictors of long-term outcome in rotator cuff calcific tendinitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Knowledge on the epidemiology and long-term course of rotator cuff calcific tendinitis (RCCT) is scarce. We assessed demographics, radiological characteristics, and their association with long-term outcomes in a large patient group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Baseline demographics, radiological characteristics and treatment were recorded in 342 patients. Interobserver agreement of radiological measures was analyzed. Long-term outcome was evaluated with questionnaires (WORC, DASH). The association of baseline characteristics with outcome was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age was 49.0 (SD = 10.0), and 59.5 % were female. The dominant arm was affected in 66.0 %, and 21.3 % had bilateral disease. Calcifications were on average 18.7 mm (SD = 10.1, ICC = 0.84 (p < 0.001)) and located 10.1 mm (SD = 11.8) medially to the acromion (ICC = 0.77 (p < 0.001)). Gärtner type I calcifications were found in 32.1 % (Kappa = 0.47 (p < 0.001)). After 14 years (SD = 7.1) of follow-up, median WORC was 72.5 (range, 3.0-100.0; WORC < 60 in 42 %) and median DASH 17.0 (range, 0.0-82.0). Female gender, dominant arm involvement, bilateral disease, longer duration of symptoms, and multiple calcifications were associated with inferior WORC. DASH results were similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many subjects have persisting shoulder complaints years after diagnosis, regardless of treatment. Female gender, dominant arm involvement, bilateral disease, longer duration of symptoms, and multiple calcifications were associated with inferior outcome. Radiological measures had moderate-to-good reliability and no prognostic value.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  • Most RCCT studies report on short-term outcome and/or small patients groups. • In this large, long-term observational study, RCCT appeared to not be self-limiting in many subjects. • Negative prognostic factors included female gender, more calcifications, dominant arm affected, and longer duration of symptoms. • Interobserver agreement of general radiological RCCT measures is moderate to good. • More rigorous diagnostics and treatment might be needed in specific RCCT cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Postzone J11R, Postbus 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands. p.b.de_witte@lumc.nl.
authors.forename: Pieter Bas
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: de Witte
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Postzone J11R, Postbus 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.|Department of Clinical Epidemiology, LUMC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Raymond A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: van Adrichem
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Postzone J11R, Postbus 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jasmijn W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Selten
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Postzone J11R, Postbus 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jochem
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nagels
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, LUMC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reijnierse
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), Postzone J11R, Postbus 9600, 2300 RC, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Rob G H H
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Nelissen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D011379:Prognosis; D011859:Radiography; D020127:Recovery of Function; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D017006:Rotator Cuff / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000503:physiopathology; D052256:Tendinopathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Calcific tendinitis; Epidemiology; Long-term; Rotator cuff; Treatment