Alcaptonuria is an inherited hereditary metabolic disorder, which is associated with various systemic abnormalities and related to the accumulation of homogentisic acid and a derived melanine-like pigment in the connective tissues; the latter is termed ochronosis. We present the arthroscopic findings in the shoulder of a 58-year-old female with ochronotic arthropathy and discuss the role of arthroscopy in the diagnosis and management of this rare metabolic disorder.
HighlightsCase 1: massive calcific deposits in the context of the supraspinatus muscle belly.Case 2: calcific deposits at the biceps anchor.Case 3: calcific deposits in the cranial intra-articular trait of the subscapularis tendon.These 3 atypical cases were not responsive to conservative treatment.Arthroscopic removal of the deposits ensured an optimal clinical outcome.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.