OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and radiographic results of arthroscopic treatment of the rotator cuff in patients with Calcifying Tendinitis. METHOD: A retrospective study of twenty patients submitted to arthroscopic treatment for rotator cuff Calcifying Tendinitis from March 1999 to November 2005. Six patients were excluded due to loss of follow-up. The average follow-up period was 41.4 months. Eight patients (57%) were female and six (43%) male. The right side was affected in 10 (71%) and the left in four (29%) cases. Nine cases (64%) had calcification in the tendon above the supraspinatus, two (14%) in the infraspinatus, and three (21%) involved the two tendons. RESULTS: In all cases, the resection of calcium deposits was performed with a needle (Jelco® No. 14) in combination with curettage (mini-curette). Two shoulders (14%) were submitted to sub-acromial decompression, and one (7%) to excision of the distal clavicle. A suture tendon-tendon was performed in three shoulders (21%). Transosseous suture was not necessary for any patient. According to UCLA scale, an average of 33 points (26-35) was obtained, indicating that a majority of patients had good results. In the final radiographic evaluation, no patients showed signs of calcification. CONCLUSION: Arthroscopic treatment of calcifying tendinitis of the rotator cuff safely allows for the excision of the calcification, leading to good results in relation to shoulder pain and function.
Arthroscopy; Rotator Cuff; Tendinopathy; Shoulder; Debridement; Calcinosis
