title: ARTHROSCOPIC TREATMENT OF CALCIFYING TENDINITIS OF THE ROTATOR CUFF.
abstract: To evaluate the clinical and radiographic results from arthroscopic surgical treatment of the rotator cuff in patients with calcifying tendinitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was conducted on twenty patients who underwent arthroscopic treatment for calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder between March 1999 and November 2005. Six patients were excluded due to loss of follow-up. The average follow-up period was 41.4 months. Eight patients (57%) were female and six (43%) were male. The right side was affected in 10 cases (71%) and the left in four cases (29%). Nine cases (64%) had calcification in the supraspinatus tendon, two (14%) in the infraspinatus tendon, and three (21%) in both tendons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In all cases, resection of the calcium deposits was performed by means of a needle (Jelco® No. 14) in combination with curettage (mini-curette). Two shoulders (14%) underwent subacromial decompression, and one (7%) underwent excision of the distal clavicle. A tendon-tendon suture was performed in three shoulders (21%). None of the patients underwent tendon-bone reinsertion. The mean score obtained on the UCLA scale was 33 points (26-35), thus indicating that a majority of patients had good results. In the final radiographic evaluation, none of the patients showed signs of calcification.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Arthroscopic treatment of calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder safely allows excision of the calcification, leading to good results in relation to shoulder pain and function.
authors.affiliation: Head of the Shoulder and Elbow Group of the Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, HC/FMUSP, SP.
authors.forename: Arnaldo Amado Ferreira
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Neto
authors.affiliation: Trainee Physician in the Shoulder and Elbow Group of the Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, HC/FMUSP, SP.
authors.forename: Cassio Silva
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Trevizani
authors.affiliation: Attending Physician in the Shoulder and Elbow Group of the Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, HC/FMUSP, SP.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Benegas
authors.affiliation: Attending Physician in the Shoulder and Elbow Group of the Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, HC/FMUSP, SP.
authors.forename: Eduardo Angeli
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Malavolta
authors.affiliation: Attending Physician in the Shoulder and Elbow Group of the Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, HC/FMUSP, SP.
authors.forename: Mauro Emílio Conforto
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Gracitelli
authors.affiliation: Attending Physician in the Shoulder and Elbow Group of the Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, HC/FMUSP, SP.
authors.forename: Alexandre Carneiro
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Bitar
authors.affiliation: Trainee Physician in the Shoulder and Elbow Group of the Institute of Orthopedics and Traumatology, HC/FMUSP, SP.
authors.forename: Francisco José Dos Santos
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Neto
keywords: Arthroscopy; Calcinosis; Debridement; Rotator Cuff; Shoulder; Tendinopathy