ARTHROSCOPIC TREATMENT OF CALCIFIC TENDIN ITIS - ACROMIOPLASTY OR REMOVAL OF CALCIFIC DEPOSITS

In a retrospective analysis we evaluated 48 patients who had been arth roscopically treated for tendinitis calcarea. The calcific deposit was removed whenever possible and all patients were treated by arthroscop ic subacromial decompression. In subjects who showed subacromial steno sis by X-ray or by intraoperative findings, an arthroscopic acromiopla sty was performed. At follow-up all patients were evaluated according to the Constant score. Additionally all pre- and postoperative X-rays were reviewed. After surgery the Constant score significantly improved . In all cases where acromioplasty was performed, a flattening of the bony configuration was achieved. The X-ray analysis showed that no cal cific deposit with blurred borders converted to sharp borders, There w as also no deposit that converted from a transparent appearance to a d ense structure. Patients with disappearance of the calcific deposit po stoperatively had significantly better outcome than patients with no c hange in the X-ray. An additional acromioplasty did not improve the re sults. The aim of arthroscopic treatment of calcific tendinitis has to be the removal of the calcific deposit. Acromioplasty does not lead t o further improvement of the result.