Surgical management of calcific tendinitis of the shoulder: An analysis of26 cases

Chronic calcific tendinitis of the shoulder has good results after medical treatment in most cases. Around 10% of the patients resistant to medical tr eatment require surgery. We report 22 patients operated on using an open pr ocedure. The operation included removal of the calcific deposit and an acro mioplasty. The patients were rated preoperatively and postoperatively for p ain, limitations in activities of daily living, range of movement and power according to a questionnaire and the Constant assessment. Globally the ave rage score increased from 52.2 points out of 100 at the preoperative examin ation to 89.3 postoperatively with a mean follow up of 23 months. The most favourable results are obtained in patients with the longest interval betwe en onset of disease and intervention (over 1 year) and with a progressive c ourse of disease. Different techniques are discussed. Arthroscopically assi sted procedures and open techniques are compared.