Nonsurgical removal of a massive calcification of the shoulder

Abstract

Calcific tendinopathy of the shoulder is a prevalent and painful condition marked by calcific deposits in the rotator cuff tendons or subacromial bursa, with an incidence of 2.7% to 20%, predominantly affecting individuals aged 30 to 50. Women are 1.5 times more likely to be affected than men. Deposits are frequently bilateral in 10%-20% of cases and most commonly found in the supraspinatus tendon. The pathogenesis remains unclear, with theories suggesting repetitive strain or ischemic degeneration leading to calcium deposition. The disease progresses through precalcific, calcific, and postcalcific phases, with symptoms ranging from mild pain to severe, disabling pain resistant to medication. Diagnosis primarily involves radiographs or CT scans, with ultrasound aiding in deposit staging. Conservative treatments include medication, physiotherapy, and subacromial corticosteroid injections. Novel nonsurgical treatments like ultrasound-guided needling (UGN) and extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) have shown promise. When conservative measures fail, surgical options achieve significant improvement. This case report details a 53-year-old woman with a 12 cm calcification treated successfully with UGN, demonstrating the efficacy of this minimally invasive technique for large deposits.

Keywords

• Calcific tendinopathy
• Shoulder calcification
• Ultrasound-guided-needling (UGN)
• Supraspinatus tendon
• Rotator cuff