Calcific shoulder tendinitis: Treatment with modified US-guided fine-needle technique

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical response to treatment of calcified tendinitis of the shoulder by using a modified percutaneous ultrasonography (US)-guid ed fine-needle technique. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty shoulders of 30 consecutive patients (23 wome n, seven men; mean age, 47.4 years) with chronic shoulder pain (average dur ation, 43.1 months) refractory to medical treatment were treated percutaneo usly by using a fine needle and US guidance. Patients were prospectively ev aluated by using a shoulder pain and disability index consisting of 13 item s and divided into two subcategories: pain and disability. The patient comp leted the questionnaire before the procedure and during the follow-up visit approximately 1 month later. A diagnostic US examination was also performe d at that time. RESULTS: There was a statistically significant improvement in the shoulder pain and disability index total score (27.0%) and the pain (30.5 %) and dis ability (23.9%) scores. According to the index, these results indicate a si gnificant clinical response. CONCLUSION: This modified US-guided fine-needle technique for calcified ten dinitis of the shoulder appears to be an effective therapy and was less agg ressive than previously described percutaneous techniques.