A COVID-19 vaccination precipitating symptomatic calcific tendinitis: A case report

Abstract

Introduction Shoulder pathology may be symptomatic or asymptomatic depending on the patient. We report the first case of a COVID-19 vaccination administration precipitating symptomatic calcific tendinitis from pre-existing, asymptomatic calcific tendinitis. Case presentation A 50-year-old Thai male began experiencing left shoulder pain about 3 hours following a COVID-19 vaccination. He waited at home for the pain to improve, and when it did not improve in about 3 days he decided to see a doctor at the orthopedics clinic. He was sent for ultrasonography of his shoulder, which revealed calcific tendinitis of the subscapularis tendon. Discussion A SIRVA is normally considered if post-vaccination shoulder pain has not improved within a few days following a vaccination in a patient without shoulder pain prior to the vaccination. In our patient, a COVID-19 vaccination precipitated asymptomatic calcific tendinitis to symptomatic calcific tendinitis. Conclusion Previously asymptomatic shoulder pathologies can be precipitated to symptomatic by a COVID-19 vaccination.

Shoulder injury related to vaccine administration (SIRVA) after COVID-19 vaccination

“…For subgroup purposes, that patient is counted in the cases from the literature [9] . In total, 28 patients were included from literature [9] , [10] , [11] , [12] , [13] , [14] , [15] , [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] , [22] , [23] .…”

New‐onset inflammatory arthritis after COVID‐19 vaccination: A systematic review

“…Meanwhile, a case with intramuscular hematoma after vaccination resulting from iatrogenically erroneous injection site was also reported 31 . Another case with pre‐existing asymptomatic supraspinatus calcific tendinopathy suffered from shoulder pain and ROM limitation 3 hours after AZD‐1222 vaccination 36 . Although these etiologies of arthritis are also clinically important, they are neither listed in Table 3 nor included in analysis because they are beyond the scope of the review.…”

SIRVA: Shoulder injury related to vaccine administration

“…Other studies have suggested a subacromial subdeltoid bursitis as the primary pathology, 7-13 while there have also been case reports of calcific tendonitis. 14,15 Where there is isolated evidence of neuropathic changes in the axillary or radial nerve, there may be underlying iatrogenic damage due to inferior needle placement. 16,17 Diffuse weakness and neuropathic changes in non-dermatomal and myotomal patterns may indicate a brachial neuritis aetiology (Parsonage-Turner syndrome).…”