Calcifications after operations in the subacromial space

Objective: Although there are several studies on the development of periart icular calcifications after different operation procedures of the joints, s uch calcifications have only seldomly been described in connection with ope rations in the subacromial space. Therefore, the present study was aimed at investigating the incidence of periarticular calcifications after operatio ns in the subacromial space and to assess their clinical relevance. Patients and methods: In a retrospective study we examined 152 patients (51 female, 101 male) who had been operated on for primary shoulder impingemen t by open or arthroscopic procedures. The average follow-up time was 32.5 m onths. The assessment of the outcome of the treatment was performed using t he criteria of the Constant score, different shoulder tests, a visual-analo g scale for the evaluation of pain, and by evaluation of radiographs. Results: Our study revealed good clinical results in the operative treatmen t of different stages of primary shoulder impingement and thus confirmed th e results of similar studies before. However, in 25.6% of all patients we f ound periarticular calcifications. Hereby, calcifications occurred signific antly more often after open procedures (56.8%) than after arthroscopic proc edures (12.9%). There was non correlation between the occurrence of such ca lcifications and the stage of the disease. Moreover, comparison of the clin ical results and the Constant scores at follow-up did not reveal any differ ences between patients with and without periarticular calcifications. Conclusion: Our study shows that the presence of periarticular calcificatio ns after operations in the subacromial space is not necessarily associated with clinical symptoms. Therefore, routine prophylactic measurements agains t such calcifications are not justified.