PREOPERATIVE ULTRASONOGRAPHIC MAPPING OF CALCIUM DEPOSITS FACILITATESLOCALIZATION DURING ARTHROSCOPIC SURGERY FOR CALCIFYING TENDINITIS OFTHE ROTATOR CUFF

Calcifying tendinitis is a relatively common disorder of the rotator c uff. For symptomatic patients, excision of the calcium deposits offers reliable pain relief. The arthroscopic technique is demanding. Arthro scopic localization of the deposit is frequently demanding. The techni que described in this article facilitates the localization of calcium deposits based on preoperative ultrasonography, Knowing the exact topo graphy of the deposit relative to the visible landmarks allows the sur geon to localize the site of the deposit from the intra-articular view . Probing the rotator cuff with a spinal needle and looking for calcif ic material at the tip of the needle is an important step in verifying the location of the deposit.