CALCIFYING TENDINITIS - CLINICAL AND SONO GRAPHICAL RESULTS AFTER NONOPERATIVE THERAPY

Purpose: The aim of this study is to analyse the mid-term clinical and sonographical results of non-operative therapy of calcifying tendinit is. Methods: Retrospectively the anamnestical, clinical and sonographi cal results after various non-operative treatment of patients with cal cifying tendinitis were reviewed. For this purpose 159 patients with 1 78 calcifying deposits in the rotator cuff were evaluated on an averag e of 60 months after their first examination in our clinic (mean age: 49.2 years; sex ratio: 58% women). Results: During a mean symptomatic period of 49 months, an average of 4.2 different therapeutic modalitie s were applied. After this time 70% of all patients showed an excellen t or good result. With regard to the age-correlated Constant-Score 85% of all patients had more than 81 points, i.e. a good result. The mid- term results on a visual analogous scale from 10 (pain) to 0 (no pain) showed a decrease from 7.7 to 2.2 and this correlated with the should er function scores (Constant-/ Patte-Score, r similar to 0.8). After a n average of 104 months 82% of the hydroxyapatite deposits could not b e diagnosed by sonography (7.5 MHz.) anymore. Conclusion: In the treat ment of calcifying tendinitis the conservative methods achieve good an d excellent results in 70%. Patients should be treated with analgetics , subacromial injections, physiotherapy and ice therapy up to a period of twelve months, above all with small deposits and radiologic resorp tive stadiums. The results of this study should be compared with any i nvasive regimen.