Open Access
Issue
SICOT-J
Volume 4, 2018
Article Number 45
Number of page(s) 6
Section Shoulder
DOI https://doi.org/10.1051/sicotj/2018043
Published online 19 October 2018

© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2018

Licence Creative CommonsThis is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Introduction

Calcified tendinopathy of the rotator cuff is one of the most common conditions regarding the shoulder pathology. It is characterized by a reactive calcification that affects the tendons that are part of the rotator cuff [1]. The reported prevalence of this condition varies from 2.7% to 22%. Women aged between 30 and 50 years old are the most common affected group [2]. The pathogenesis involves two proposed different processes leading to formation of the calcium deposits in the cuff. The degenerative calcification where the degeneration of the tendon fibers precedes calcification and the reactive calcification where the process of calcification is actively mediated by cells in a viable environment [3].

Concerning the histopathologic findings the calcified tendinopathy consists of three stages: the precalcific, where the tendinous tissue is altered into fibrocartilage, the calcific stage, with a phase of formation and another one of resorption, and the post-calcific stage [4,5]. Due to the fact that the disease is multifocal, with several parts of the tendon undergoing varying stages of the evolutionary process, there are some classification systems trying to personalize the disease's therapy [5].

The management of calcified tendinitis can be divided into two major categories: the conservative treatment and the operative one. The first one includes certain exercises which have to be followed by the patients in combination with non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). The use of NSAIDS is indicated in the acute phase, where the aim is pain relief. Moreover, the extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) has shown good results and low complication rate [6,7]. It is mostly used in the chronic formative phase with definite radiological evidence of calcium deposits [8]. The needling or puncturing aims to shorten the deposit and accelerate resorption [9]. The operative management is indicated in patients who suffer from the symptoms for 6 months and more and the conservative treatment was not successful. It includes the removal of the lesion either arthroscopically or with open procedures. Lately, ultrasound-guided needle puncture and lavage have been introduced for the therapy of supraspinatus calcified tendinopathy [10,11]. In general, there is no clear evidence of the superiority of a treatment, nevertheless, operative treatment is rarely used.

The purpose of this study is to present a protocol which combines drilling of the calcium deposits with xylocaine under ultrasound guidance, followed by a specific program of physiotherapy including ESWT. In this way, we managed to combine the acute pain relief with the xylocaine, the shortening of the deposit with the needling and the early mobilization with the physiotherapy.

Materials and methods

From February 2013 to August 2015, 66 consecutive patients (68 shoulders) with a mean age of 54.47 years old (range from 33 to 89 years old) who were first diagnosed with supraspinatus calcified tendinopathy were included in our study. 47 of them were female and 19 were male. In 38 patients the affected shoulder was the right one, in 26 it was the left one, and in 2 patients the problem was bilateral. The mean duration of pain before the patient's visit to our department was 8 months (2 weeks to 2 years). All the demographic data of the patients are shown in Table 1.

All the patients underwent clinical and radiological examination, which revealed calcium deposits on the supraspinatus tendon (Figures 1 and 2). The calcific deposit was classified radiologically according to Bosworth classification [12]. According to this classification the calcific deposit is characterized as tiny when it is barely visible in fluoroscopy, medium when it is less than 1.5 cm and large when it is more than 1.5 cm.

The patient is placed in sitting position, with the armrest in front of the therapist. After the antiseptic clearance of the shoulder area, under ultrasound guidance a 21G needle with dimension 0.8 × 40 mm was inserted from the lateral side of the shoulder drilling the calcific deposition and injecting xylocaine 2%. The needling of the deposit was performed repeatedly and manually in different sides of the calcific mass without the help of a power drill. After that the needle was removed and the patients were asked to make rotational movements of the shoulder. The total amount of xylocaine that was used in every patient was 5 ml. The arm was kept in brace for 1 week.

After the drilling the patient completed the therapy with 5 visits of physiotherapy using ESWT (Shockmaster 500, Gymna, Uniphy) (every 5–7 days). Since there is no clear consensus about the number of sessions [13,14], the decision about the number of the visits was mostly empirical as in other studies focusing on the effect of ESWT on calcified tendinopathy of the rotator cuff [15,16]. The first visit in the physiotherapist was 3 days after the drilling. The device adjustments were 2.5 bar pressure, 9 Hz frequency and 3000 shocks. The patient was lying on a bed with the affected arm positioned in adduction, the elbow flexed at 90 degrees, and the hand upon the abdomen. The ESWT was applied before the exercises. The probe was placed perpendicular to the calcific deposit and it was applied approximately 1 cm perimetrically of it. No local anaesthesia was applied.

The exercises of the physiotherapy were divided into two main categories: warm up exercises and main exercises. The main exercises of the protocol were divided into 5 different sections: (1) The patient is placed in standing working on the internal and external rotation. (2) The patient in standing position working on the shoulder flexion. (3) The patient is in standing position working on shoulder's abduction. (4) The patient is in standing position, facing a multifunctional bench, holding a bar with both hands close to each other. The patient pulls the bar up, keeping it close to the body, all the way up until it reaches under the chin. The patient tries to keep his elbows as raised as possible and over the level of the bar. The bar is attached via wire and pulleys to a 5 kg weight. (5) The patient is in standing position, slightly forward bended and supporting his healthy hand on the wall. The treated hand is hanging down holding a 2.5 kg weight. The patient performs forward, backward, circular and rotating movements in the treated shoulder joint without bending the elbow. The patient is trying not putt effort in all range of motion (ROM) instead leave the weight to carry on the movement with a small swing at the beginning of the motion. Purpose of the exercise is to apply some traction in the shoulder tendons in each direction and as a relaxing finishing exercise.

After the end of the physiotherapy sessions, the patient underwent new radiological evaluation and then every 6 months. Both Visual Analogue Score (VAS) and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score were measured before the start of the therapeutic protocol as well as after the end of the whole therapy. Moreover, the abduction rate was measured before and after the therapy. The mean follow-up of the patients was 18 months (range from 6 to 36 months).

Table 1

Demographic data of the patients included in the study.

thumbnail Figure 1

X-ray of a 41-year-old female patient who works as secretary, suffering from calcified tendinopathy before the start of the treatment protocol. The calcific deposit lies on the insertion of supraspinatus.

thumbnail Figure 2

X-ray of a 33-year-old female patient who works as a receptionist. A calcific deposit was found in the insertion of the supraspinatus tendon.

Results

According to Bosworth classification 15 calcific deposits were characterized as tiny, 33 as medium and 20 as large. All the patients showed significant improvement of the symptoms. There was a significant improvement in the ROM of the shoulder. The mean abduction improved from 81° (rate from 40° to 100°) before the start of the therapy to 110° (range from 90° to 160°). The rate of the improvement was 35.8%. The mean VAS before the start of the therapeutic protocol was 8.1/10 (6.7–9.8), whereas after the end of the therapeutic protocol the mean VAS was 3.3/10 (0–7.2). The percentage of the improvement was 58.02%. Moreover, at the last follow-up of the patients the mean DASH score showed a significant improvement with a decrease from 27(22–32) to 5(2–8). All the results were statistical significant (p < 0.001). Additionally, 65 of 66 patients (98.48%) were able to perform their everyday activity with no restriction of the movement of the shoulder. In one patient despite the improvement of the pain, he complained that he was still not able to perform freely his everyday activities.

As far as it concerns the radiological aspects, in all but one cases the deposit of calcium in the tendon of supraspinatus disappeared in the X-ray that was made after the end the of the five physiotherapy visits (Figures 3 and 4). During the follow-up 65 of the 66 patients did not show signs of deterioration.

thumbnail Figure 3

X-ray of the shoulder of the previous patient after the end of the treatment protocol 25 days after the drilling of the deposit.

thumbnail Figure 4

X-ray of the same patient 30 days after the needling and immediately after the end of the whole treating protocol.

Discussion

The real causes of calcified tendinitis of the rotator till remains a controversial issue. The calcium deposits of the rotator cuff mostly occur in the supraspinatus tendon near its insertion followed by the infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis. Calcified tendinitis can also affect more than one tendons at a time [17,18]. Conservative treatment remains the first choice of treatment and most of the times it has successful results [1,19,20].

There are plenty of studies which report good to excellent results after conservative treatment of supraspinatus calcifying tendinitis. Greis et al. [21] report the non-operative treatment options of calcified tendinopathy of the rotator cuff, which include the NSAIDs, the therapeutic ultrasound, the ESWT, the physical therapy and injections of corticosteroid. In a study of Moretti et al. [22] using medium-energy shock wave therapy for calcified tendinopathy of the rotator cuff, 70% of the patients reported satisfactory functional results, whereas in 54% there was disappearance of the calcific deposit in the radiological evaluation.

Minimally invasive techniques such as puncture consist a treatment choice for the physician. The ultrasound-guided barbotage (needling and lavage) has been associated with promising results. Nevertheless, it seems that the corticosteroid injection in the subacromial bursa may have the same impact on the patients in a long-term follow-up [23].

Despite the good reported results of the non-operative treatment of supraspinatus calcified tendinopathy, there is the option of operative treatment. Surgical treatment is reserved for patients in which prolonged conservative therapy has failed and the deposits do not show signs of spontaneous resolution on radiographs [2426]. Ranalletta et al. [2] reported that 96.2% of the patients, who were operated arthroscopically for the removal of calcific deposit without acromioplasty, were satisfied with the treatment. Later, in 2011 [17], all 56 patients who underwent arthroscopic removal of the calcific deposit were able to return to their level of activity before the beginning of their complaint. Recently Hashiguchi et al. [27] presented a series of patients who were treated with arthroscopic removal and tendon repair for refractory rotator cuff calcific tendinitis. The authors propose that the accurate determination of the deposit even with three-dimensional computed tomography scan is of high importance and the deposit can be removed through a longitudinal incision and end-to-side repair of the cuff. In order to achieve better visualization of the rotator cuff during the operative removal, arthroscopic subacromial bursectomy is proposed. Additionally, in cases of impingement acromioplasty should be performed [28].

Despite the fact that surgical treatment is reserved for patients in which prolonged conservative therapy has failed and the deposits do not show signs of spontaneous resolution on radiographs [2426], there are controversial issues concerning the arthroscopic treatment of these lesions such as the remove of all calcium deposits and if the remove of the calcific material leaves a hole in the tendon. Moreover, the subacromial decompression is still debated [2932].

In 2008 Zhu et al. [10] compared the treatment of calcifying tendinitis using ultrasound-guided needle puncture without aspiration of the calcified deposits, with ultrasound-guided needle puncture combined with aspiration of the calcified deposits. They reported good to excellent results in 83% of the patients and they did not find significant statistical difference when compared with the group of patients who were treated with both needle puncture and aspiration. Later, in 2014 Castillo-Gonzalez et al. [11] reported that in 83.78% of the patients treated with ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle lavage the calcific deposits were disappeared after 1 year whereas 89.26% of the patients were pain free. All the patients after 2 years follow-up had a decrease in pain as well as in the size of the calcification.

In a retrospective comparative study between arthroscopic surgery and shock wave therapy for chronic calcifying tendinitis [33], the authors conclude that shock wave therapy is equivalent to arthroscopy, and so shock wave therapy should be preferred due to its noninvasiveness. In addition, the authors support that ESWT should be performed when adequate conservative approach has failed.

Despite the different proposed protocols for the treatment of calcified tendinopathy in the international literature, the information concerning the epidemiology and the prognostic factors is rare. In 2016, de Witte et al. [34] collected the demographic characteristics and treatment of 342 patients. According to the authors the female gender, the dominant arm the bilateral disease, the longer duration pf the symptoms and the presence of multiple calcified deposits are factors which predispose for inferior outcome.

Our study presents a treatment protocol which includes the drilling of the calcific deposit and ESWT with very promising results. It is the first described technique which takes advantage of both needle puncture as well as of the well-established beneficial effect of the ESWT. In our series of patients, approximately 98% were satisfied with the results and there was a movement improvement approximately 58%.

Despite the promising results, which are similar with the results of the current international bibliography, the current study has several limitations. At first, a bigger number of patients is needed in order to be able to extract secure results about the proposed protocol treatment as well as a longer follow-up period for every patient. Moreover, the present study consists a retrospective study, and there is absence of control group as a comparative group in order to assess better the results of the presented method.

In conclusion, conservative treatment should be the first choice in the treatment of the patients who suffer from calcified tendinitis of the supraspinatus with the use of ESWT and operative treatment for the removal of the calcific deposit should be considered after the failure of the conservative treatment. Based on our study, it seems that a combination of the use of ESWT with the drilling of the deposit using a 21G needle as well as the xylocaine injection offers a very promising therapeutic protocol for these patients and especially for those who favor the non-operative treatment.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

  1. Chiou H-J, Chou Y-H, Wu J-J, Huang T-F, Ma H-L, Hsu C-C, Chang C-Y (2001) The role of high-resolution ultrasonography in management of calcific tendonitis of the rotator cuff. Ultrasound Med Biol 27 (6), 735–743. [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Ranalletta M, Rossi LA, Bongiovanni SL, Tanoira I, Piuzzi N, Maignon G (2015) Arthroscopic removal and rotator cuff repair without acromioplasty for the treatment of symptomatic calcifying tendinitis of the supraspinatus tendon. Orthop J Sports Med 3 (4), 2325967115577957. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
  3. Uhthoff HK, Loehr JW (1997) Calcific tendinopathy of the rotator cuff: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 5 (4), 183–191. [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Uhthoff HK Anatomopathology of Calcifying Tendinitis of the Cuff. In: The cuff. Gazielly DF, Gleyze P, Thomas T, Editors. Paris, Elsevier. (1997) 144–147. [Google Scholar]
  5. Lam F, Bhatia D, Van Rooyen K, de Beer J (2006) Modern management of calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder. Curr Orthop 20(6), 446–452. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
  6. Cosentino R, De Stefano R, Selvi E, Frati E, Manca S, Frediani B, Marcolongo R (2003) Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for chronic calcific tendinitis of the shoulder: single blind study. Ann Rheum Dis 62 (3), 248–250. [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Daecke W, Kusnierczak D, Loew M (2002) Long-term effects of extracorporeal shockwave therapy in chronic calcific tendinitis of the shoulder. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 11 (5), 476–480. [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Galasso O, Amelio E, Riccelli DA, Gasparini G (2012) Short-term outcomes of extracorporeal shock wave therapy for the treatment of chronic non-calcific tendinopathy of the supraspinatus: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 13 (1), 86. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
  9. Moutounet J, Chevrot A, Wybier M, Godefroy D (1992) X-ray guided puncture-aspiration of refractory calcifications of the shoulder. Ann Radiol 3, 156–159. [Google Scholar]
  10. Zhu J, Jiang Y, Hu Y, Xing C, Hu B (2008) Evaluating the long-term effect of ultrasound-guided needle puncture without aspiration on calcifying supraspinatus tendinitis. Adv Ther 25 (11), 1229–1234. [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Castillo-Gonzalez FD, Ramos-Alvarez JJ, Rodriguez-Fabian G, Gonzalez-Perez J, Calderon-Montero J (2014) Treatment of the calcific tendinopathy of the rotator cuff by ultrasound-guided percutaneous needle lavage. Two years prospective study. Muscles Ligaments Tendons J 4(2), 220–225. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. Bosworth BM (1941) Calcium deposits in the shoulder and subacromial bursitis: a survey of 12, 122 shoulders. J Am Med Assoc 116(22), 2477–2482. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
  13. Hsu CJ, Wang DY, Tseng KF, Fong YC, Hsu HC, Jim YF (2008) Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 17 (1), 55–59. [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Mouzopoulos G, Stamatakos M, Mouzopoulos D, Tzurbakis M (2007) Extracorporeal shock wave treatment for shoulder calcific tendonitis: a systematic review. Skeletal Radiol 36 (9), 803–811. [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Ioppolo F, Tattoli M, Di Sante L, Attanasi C, Venditto T, Servidio M, Cacchio A, Santilli V (2012) Extracorporeal shock-wave therapy for supraspinatus calcifying tendinitis: a randomized clinical trial comparing two different energy levels. Phys Ther 92 (11), 1376–1385. [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Gerdesmeyer L, Wagenpfeil S, Haake M, Maier M, Loew M, Wortler K, Lampe R, Seil R, Handle G, Gassel S, Rompe JD (2003) Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for the treatment of chronic calcifying tendonitis of the rotator cuff: a randomized controlled trial. JAMA 290 (19), 2573–2580. [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. El Shewy MT (2011) Arthroscopic removal of calcium deposits of the rotator cuff: a 7-year follow-up. Am J Sports Med 39 (6), 1302–1305. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
  18. Lippmann R (1961) Observations concerning the calcific cuff deposit. Clin Orthop 20, 49. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Hurt G, Baker CL, Jr. (2003) Calcific tendinitis of the shoulder. Orthop Clin North Am 34 (4), 567–575. [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. del Cura JL, Torre I, Zabala R, Legorburu A (2007) Sonographically guided percutaneous needle lavage in calcific tendinitis of the shoulder: short- and long-term results. AJR Am J Roentgenol 189 (3), W128–W134. [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Greis AC, Derrington SM, McAuliffe M (2015) Evaluation and nonsurgical management of rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy. Orthop Clin North Am 46 (2), 293–302. [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Moretti B, Garofalo R, Genco S, Patella V, Mouhsine E (2005) Medium-energy shock wave therapy in the treatment of rotator cuff calcifying tendinitis. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 13(5), 405–410. [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. de Witte PB, Kolk A, Overes F, Nelissen R, Reijnierse M (2017) Rotator cuff calcific tendinitis: ultrasound-guided needling and lavage versus subacromial corticosteroids: five-year outcomes of a randomized controlled trial. Am J Sports Med 45 (14), 3305–3314. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
  24. Jerosch J, Strauss JM, Schmiel S (1998) Arthroscopic treatment of calcific tendinitis of the shoulder. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 7 (1), 30–37. [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Oliva F, Via AG, Maffulli N (2011) Calcific tendinopathy of the rotator cuff tendons. Sports Med Arthrosc Rev 19 ), 237–243. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
  26. Porcellini G, Paladini P, Campi F, Paganelli M (2004) Arthroscopic treatment of calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder: clinical and ultrasonographic follow-up findings at two to five years. J Shoulder Elbow Surg 13 (5), 503–508. [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  27. Hashiguchi H, Iwashita S, Okubo A, Takai S (2017) Arthroscopic removal and tendon repair for refractory rotator cuff calcific tendinitis of the shoulder. J Nippon Med Sch 84 (1), 19–24. [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  28. ElShewy MT (2016) Calcific tendinitis of the rotator cuff. World J Orthop 7(1), 55–60. [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  29. Ark JW, Flock TJ, Flatow EL, Bigliani LU (1992) Arthroscopic treatment of calcific tendinitis of the shoulder. Arthroscopy 8 (2), 183–188. [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  30. Jacobs R, Debeer P (2006) Calcifying tendinitis of the rotator cuff: functional outcome after arthroscopic treatment. Acta Orthop Belg 72 (3), 276–281. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  31. Maier D, Jaeger M, Izadpanah K, Bornebusch L, Suedkamp NP, Ogon P (2013) Rotator cuff preservation in arthroscopic treatment of calcific tendinitis. Arthroscopy 29 (5), 824–831. [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  32. Marder RA, Heiden EA, Kim S (2011) Calcific tendonitis of the shoulder: is subacromial decompression in combination with removal of the calcific deposit beneficial? J Shoulder Elbow Surg 20 (6), 955–960. [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  33. Rebuzzi E, Coletti N, Schiavetti S, Giusto F (2008) Arthroscopy surgery versus shock wave therapy for chronic calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder. J Orthop Traumatol 9 (4), 179–185. [CrossRef] [Google Scholar]
  34. de Witte PB, van Adrichem RA, Selten JW, Nagels J, R eijnierse M, Nelissen RG (2016) Radiological and clinical predictors of long-term outcome in rotator cuff calcific tendinitis. Eur Radiol 26 (10), 3401–3411. [CrossRef] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Cite this article as: Pakos E, Gkiatas I, Rakkas G, Papadopoulos D, Gelalis I, Vekris M, Korompilias A (2018) Calcific deposit needling in combination with extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT): A proposed treatment for supraspinatus calcified tendinopathy. SICOT-J, 4, 45.

All Tables

Table 1

Demographic data of the patients included in the study.

All Figures

thumbnail Figure 1

X-ray of a 41-year-old female patient who works as secretary, suffering from calcified tendinopathy before the start of the treatment protocol. The calcific deposit lies on the insertion of supraspinatus.

In the text
thumbnail Figure 2

X-ray of a 33-year-old female patient who works as a receptionist. A calcific deposit was found in the insertion of the supraspinatus tendon.

In the text
thumbnail Figure 3

X-ray of the shoulder of the previous patient after the end of the treatment protocol 25 days after the drilling of the deposit.

In the text
thumbnail Figure 4

X-ray of the same patient 30 days after the needling and immediately after the end of the whole treating protocol.

In the text

Current usage metrics show cumulative count of Article Views (full-text article views including HTML views, PDF and ePub downloads, according to the available data) and Abstracts Views on Vision4Press platform.

Data correspond to usage on the plateform after 2015. The current usage metrics is available 48-96 hours after online publication and is updated daily on week days.

Initial download of the metrics may take a while.