Objectives: To clinically characterize calcifying tendonitis of the shoulder (CT) through a prospective quasi-experimental beforeand-after study, which provides a level of demonstrable evidence to support the decision-making and demonstrate the effectiveness of acetic acid iontophoresis and ultrasound in the treatment of CT. Methods: Prospective, quasi-experimental before-after intervention study was conducted on 44 patients who referred to the rehabilitation department, Santísima Trinidad's General Foundation hospital, Salamanca, from June 2014 to April 2016. Outcome measures: 1) Pain: measured by visual analogical scale (VAS); 2) calcification size: in millimetres, both measured radiologically at the beginning/end of treatment; 3) Intervention: Iontophoresis with 5% acetic acid at 4.7 mA × 10 minutes and continuous ultrasound 1 W/cm 2 /1 MHz × 5 minutes over calcification.Results: Mean age of the subjects was 54.2 years (n = 44), 65.9% female (n = 29), (95% with supraspinatus tendon (n = 38) and 5% with subscapularis (n = 2); 55% had complication in left shoulder (n = 22), 45% in right shoulder (n = 18) and 4.5% bilateral (n = 2). Regarding the occupation, 59.1% had (n = 26) administrative positions and 40.9% manual jobs (n = 18). On personal history: 34.09% were smoker (n = 15), 4.5% had diabetes (n = 2) and calcium intake secondary to osteoporosis was recorded for 2.27% (n = 1) of the subjects. Regarding radiological type: 68.18% formative (n = 30), 38.72% resorptive (n = 14) were observed. Average number of sessions was 19 and 9.01% (n = 4) of the subjects had treatment complications as intolerance/erythema/burn. Average initial pain was 7.7 points (VAS scale), significantly decreased (P = 0.0000) post treatment to 2.2. Initial average size of calcification was 10 mm and significantly decreased (P = 0.0000) post treatment to 3 mm. With respect to the change of calcification: success/cure rate was 56.8% (n = 25), improvement rate was 25% (n = 11); failure rate was 18.2% (n = 8). Conclusions: CT is common in middle-aged working females. It affects supraspinatus tendon. It is associated with smoking. Occupational risk factors are awkward positions and lifting weights. Iontophoresis with 5% acetic acid and ultrasound is a safe, simple and inexpensive technique, capable to reduce pain and calcification, with a recommended degree of scientific evidence (2B).
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.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.