Calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder: Advances in imaging and management

Abstract

Calcifying tendonitis of the shoulder is a common, acute or chronic, painful disorder characterized by calcifications in the rotator cuff tendons. A natural cycle exists during which the tendon repairs itself. In chronic calcific tendonitis, however, this cycle is blocked at one of the healing stages. Because chronic presentation with exacerbations is usual, initial treatment should be conservative, including rest, physical therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and, in later stages, subacromial infiltration with corticosteroids. Surgery is recommended when conservative treatment fails. This article discusses advances in imaging and medical, physical, and surgical management, as well as current evidence for the treatment of calcifying tendonitis of the shoulder.

High-energy Versus Low-energy Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy for Calcifying Tendinitis of the Shoulder: Which is Superior? A Meta-analysis

“…However, when this fails, extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) can be a good and less-invasive treatment option before surgery [10,12]. The exact mechanisms of action of the ESWT are largely unknown; Loew et al [17] postulated that the shock waves lead to a three-way mechanism of action: (1) mechanical effect resulting in deposit fragmentation; (2) molecular effect resulting in deposit phagocytosis; and (3) analgesic effect resulting in denervation of pain receptors.…”

Endoskopische Schultereingriffe: sicher und effizient

“…Neben akuten Verläufen kommen häu g auch chronische Verläufe mit akuten Exazerbationen vor [29]. Als häu gste Sehne bei der Tendinosis calcarea ist jene des Musculus supraspinatus/infraspinatus betro en, Subscapularis-Kalzi kationen kommen eher selten vor [30].…”

Tendinopatia calcárea: uma afecção local ou sistêmica?

“…Most authors have generally agreed that females are more affected by calcifying tendinopathy of the shoulder (1,2) . However, among the patients in our study, males accounted for 56% of the cases, although this finding was not statistically significant (p > 0.005).…”

“…Calcifying tendinopathy is a common disorder of the shoulder, of unknown etiology, characterized by deposition of calcium crystals inside one or more tendons of the rotator cuff (1) . It affects around 3% of adults and, of these, one third start to show symptoms within three years.…”