Impaired tensile strength after shock-wave application in an animal model of tendon calcification

Extracorporeal shock-wave application facilitates dissolution of rotator cu ff calcifications. Therefore, disappearance or disintegration of tendon cal cifications by shock waves might be appropriate for any kind of tendon calc ification. Here, shock waves with various energy flux densities were applie d to the mineralized medial gastrocnemius tendon of turkeys as an animal mo del. After application of shock waves irt vivo, with energy flux density of 0.6 mJ/mm(2), histologic examination and microradiography did not show dis solution or disintegration of tendon calcifications. After shock-wave appli cation in vitro, even for energy flux density of 1.2 mJ/mm(2) neither disso lution nor disintegration of tendon calcifications were observed. Biomechan ical testing revealed significant impairment of tensile strength following shock-wave application ill vitro, with energy flux density of 1.2 mJ/mm(2), but not with 0.6 mJ/mm(2), These results are important for considerations of clinical extracorporeal shock-wave application on tendon calcifications, as well as on tendon ossifications. (E-mail: markus.maier@ort.med.unimuenc hen.de) (C) 2001 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.