钙化性肌腱炎 资料 In-depth
您的感受
钙化性肌腱炎是指钙质在肩袖肌腱(一组将肩部固定在一起并允许您抬起手臂的肌腱)内部积聚。沉积物最常形成于冈上肌腱,该肌腱位于肩部上方,在您向侧面抬起手臂时承担大部分工作。
疼痛通常仅出现在一侧,且往往突然且剧烈发作。对许多人来说,夜间疼痛最严重,并可能经常将您唤醒。向上伸展通常是最困难的动作:将盘子放到高处的架子上、在晾衣绳上挂衣服,或将套头衫从头上套过。有些人还发现难以侧卧在受影响的肩部。
该病最常见于30至60岁的女性,但可影响任何人。约10%的人双侧肩部均出现沉积物。约20%患有此病的人完全无感觉,仅偶然发现。少数人呈现不太典型的模式,肩部后方而非侧面疼痛,这仍可能影响过头动作。
好消息是,大多数病例无需手术即可缓解。非手术治疗通常是首选步骤,大多数人通过此方法可获得改善。超声治疗有助于分解钙质并短期缓解症状。冲击波治疗也能缓解疼痛并帮助肩部更好地工作,并发症极少。
手术通常保留给其他治疗无法缓解疼痛的人群。在这种情况下,手术在88.5%的患者中取得良好效果。较大的沉积物(超过1厘米)更可能需要手术。
如果您的症状持续数月,影响睡眠和工作能力,这是该病常见的经历,值得与您的外科医生讨论。
实际发生了什么
肌腱是将肌肉连接到骨骼的强韧绳索。在您的肩部,肩袖肌腱就像绳索一样,拉动您的手臂向上和向外旋转。在钙化性肌腱炎中,钙盐结晶在这些绳索之一内部形成,通常位于肩峰上肌腱(位于肩部上方)。沉积物距离肌腱锚定在上臂骨骼的位置约1.5至2厘米。
钙盐分阶段积聚。首先,肌腱细胞转变为类似软骨的细胞,软骨是缓冲关节的光滑组织。随后,钙盐沉积在这些改变的组织中,沉积物缓慢生长。它可能安静地存在一段时间,引起很少或没有不适。疼痛部分通常发生在身体开始分解和吸收沉积物时。这种吸收阶段与上述突然、极度剧烈的疼痛有关,包括夜间痛醒。
医生尚不确定为何这种情况发生在某些人身上而未发生在其他人身上。激素和代谢问题常伴随此病出现,并可能起一定作用,尽管具体机制仍不清楚。沉积物本身由粉状钙质材料组成,属于骨骼中发现的同一类矿物质。
沉积物也解释了为何活动困难。肿胀、压痛的肌腱位于肩部顶部的小空间下方,其上方有一个充满液体的缓冲囊。当您向侧方抬起手臂时,该空间内的所有结构都会受到挤压,这就是为什么向上伸手和晾晒衣物是最疼痛的动作。向外旋转手臂通常不受影响,但向侧方抬起手臂通常会有轻度受限。
大多数这些沉积物最终会自行消退,因此首选非手术治疗。当疼痛在其他治疗后仍无法缓解时,会考虑手术。
我们能做什么
Mater Private Hospital Rockhampton 的上肢外科医生 Kieran Hirpara 博士会从适合您病情的微创方案入手。患者通常由全科医生转诊至我们的诊所;如果物理治疗师建议您就诊,您仍需获得全科医生的转诊才能符合 Medicare 报销资格。在您的首次就诊时,我们会采集病史,检查您的肩部,并在必要时安排影像学检查。超声检查是一种简单且准确的检测肩袖钙化沉积的方法。X 光片通常足以制定您的护理计划,我们仅保留真正有用的影像学检查。
大多数钙化性肌腱炎病例无需手术即可痊愈。第一步通常是使用吊带休息,并配合物理治疗以保持肩部活动,随着疼痛缓解重建力量。抗炎药物可以在身体处理沉积物的同时缓解疼痛。在大多数情况下,症状会在七到十天内消退,尽管之后 X 光片上仍可能显示钙化。在转向更侵入性的治疗之前,我们通常会先尝试简单的治疗方法。
如果简单措施不够,我们可以提供针对沉积物本身的治疗。一种选择是向滑囊注射皮质类固醇,滑囊是位于肌腱上方的充满液体的缓冲囊。另一种是冲击波疗法,即从体外将声波定向作用于沉积物。它能缓解疼痛并帮助肩部更好地工作,并发症极少。第三种选择是超声引导下的穿刺,即在超声引导下使用针头破碎并冲洗钙化沉积物。穿刺和冲击波疗法均改善了症状并去除了钙化沉积物。一年后,约 40% 的人在接受任一治疗后均无不适。穿刺在最初六周内的肩部评分改善更为显著,但到一年时两者之间没有差异。几乎所有接受穿刺的患者都会再次选择该治疗,而接受冲击波疗法的患者中这一比例为 44%。
当这些治疗未能提供足够的缓解时,手术便成为考虑选项。我们仅在非侵入性选项失败后才考虑手术,因为任何手术都比替代方案更具侵入性。手术通过锁孔切口进行,从肌腱中去除钙化沉积物。如果肩袖肌腱本身受累严重,我们会同时进行修复。我们将通过共同决策的方式与您讨论手术是否适合您,权衡您希望恢复的功能与每种选项所涉及的内容。
预期情况
对于大多数人而言,钙化性肌腱炎会自然发展并最终缓解。钙化沉积物具有自限性,这意味着您的身体最终会自行处理它。许多沉积物会在没有任何治疗的情况下分解并消失。简单的措施,如休息、物理治疗和抗炎药物,通常足以帮助您度过疼痛期,在大多数情况下,症状会在七到十天内消退。
话虽如此,该病症可能较为顽固。有些沉积物会安静地存在数月后才引发问题,而另一些则可能反复出现或导致症状持续存在。如果您的疼痛持续远超最初几周,这是该病症的一种已知模式,而非表明出现了新的问题。告知您的外科医生您的症状已持续多长时间是值得的,因为治疗在病症早期往往效果更好。体积较小且引起症状时间不超过十个月的沉积物,最有可能对冲击波治疗产生反应。
如果您选择非手术途径,改善通常是渐进的,而非一夜之间发生。超声治疗和冲击波疗法都能缓解疼痛,并有助于肩部在随后几周内更好地工作。对沉积物进行针洗(冲洗)可以在短期和长期内带来缓解,且其侵入性仅略高。如果需要手术,请预期这是一个缓慢的恢复过程,而非快速修复。关节镜手术后的肩部功能会稳步改善,术后六个月时,评分可达到正常水平的75%以上。
在权衡所有情况时,有几点值得了解。与旧方法所提示的相比,核磁共振成像(MRI)扫描更常能同时发现钙化沉积物伴随的肩袖撕裂,因此您的外科医生可能会对此进行检查。复发和持续症状并不罕见,特别是当沉积物位于手部或腕部而非肩部时。大多数人在保守治疗下恢复良好,72%的患者获得良好或优异的效果,手术则作为针对顽固少数患者的备选方案。
何时就医
如果您出现突然且剧烈的肩部疼痛,且无外伤诱因,尤其是夜间疼痛最重并影响睡眠时,请咨询您的全科医生。如果疼痛持续数月、影响睡眠或工作,或简单治疗无效,请要求专科医生评估。如果疼痛位于肩背部而非肩部外侧,情况相同,因为这种较少见的模式容易被忽视。如果您的手部或手腕形成钙盐沉积,请尽早告知,因为该部位的症状更容易持续或复发。如果您没有任何症状,但影像学检查发现肩部有钙化,只需定期观察即可。
深入探讨
Advanced reading: the deeper science (optional)
本节内容超出了您做出自身治疗决策所需的深度。钙化性肌腱炎值得额外阅读,因为其表现与大多数肩部疾病不同:钙化沉积物在完全无痛的人群中也很常见,身体通常无需干预即可自行溶解钙化灶,且去除钙化的治疗方法并非最快缓解疼痛的方法。
钙化沉积物是常见发现,并不自动等同于诊断
影像学检查报告中提到的钙化沉积物很容易被解读为问题的病因,因为它清晰可见且疼痛确实存在。流行病学数据使这一解读变得复杂。在1,219名成年人中,7.8%的无症状人群和42.5%的肩峰下疼痛综合征患者存在沉积物 [1]。在另一组302例肩关节病例中,沉积物在普通人群中很常见,且仅约三分之一伴有疼痛 [2]。
因此,沉积物确实会显著增加其作为疼痛来源的可能性,但大约每十三例无痛肩关节中就有一例存在沉积物。使沉积物从无症状转变为有症状的因素部分取决于其大小和位置:真正有症状的疾病在30至60岁、伴有肩峰下疼痛且沉积物长度超过1.5厘米的女性中可能性最高 [1],且疼痛与冈上肌部位及累及多条肌腱相关 [2]。
它通常会自行溶解,而这决定了所有治疗的意义
其自然病程趋向于吸收,这正是许多治疗看似有效的原因。最清晰的例证来自一项随机对照试验,该试验中所有患者均接受了针刺和冲洗,随后被随机分配至激素注射组或生理盐水注射组:在12个月时,生理盐水组的钙化灶在83%的患者中已吸收,而激素组为74% [3]。
请仔细研读这一结果,因为它包含了一个反直觉的结论。激素使疼痛在六周内改善,功能在三个月内改善,但对钙质是否消失无显著影响 [3]。疼痛缓解与钙质清除是两个独立的过程。一种治疗可能仅实现其中之一而缺乏另一者,且影像学上可见的病灶并非每周驱动症状的因素。
这正是非手术治疗方案疗效相似的原因
如果钙化灶无论采取何种治疗大多都会自行消退,那么这些治疗手段的目的并非治愈,而是让症状间歇期变得可以耐受。比较研究的结果正说明了这一点。在 257 名患者中,物理治疗、皮质类固醇注射和超声引导下的冲洗术(barbotage)在避免手术方面的 成功率相似 [4]。在 239 名患者中,上述三种方法大多取得成功,其中仅进行物理治疗者的失败率最高 [5]。
在手术/操作类选项中,高能冲击波疗法是研究最为透彻的微创治疗,已被证明在短期至中期安全且有效;而超声引导下的针刺疗法 并未 显示出优于超声引导下的肩峰下注射 [6]。汇总 1,258 名患者的数据显示,冲击波疗法、针刺疗法和关节镜手术均取得了良好的临床疗效 [7];在 908 名患者中,冲洗术(barbotage)安全且成功率高,但从未与其他主要选项进行过头对头比较 [8]。
手术带来的益处,精确表述
手术并非没有优势,且其优势幅度值得引用具体数据而非仅作定性描述。 汇总来自随机对照试验的 2,352 名患者,手术治疗在 功能评分改善幅度 上优于非手术治疗,且 疼痛缓解程度 与非手术治疗相当,尤其是超声引导下的针刺治疗,两种治疗途径均达到了具有临床意义的改善 [9]。 在手术技术本身之间 无显著差异,仅清除钙化沉积物与清除沉积物联合肩峰下减压术的效果相似 [10]。
功能与疼痛的分离是关键的细节。如果疼痛是主要主诉,证据并未明确支持手术。如果僵硬和功能丧失占主导且持续存在,则更倾向于支持手术。
最常被忽视的关联
钙化性肌腱炎并非均匀分布。在一项针对 102 名患者的研究中,伴有内分泌疾病(主要是甲状腺疾病和糖尿病)的患者,其症状出现年龄更轻,病程显著更长,且更常需要手术治疗 [11]。
如果您的病程异常漫长或发病较早,这一点值得向您的全科医生提出。这并非因为治疗内分泌疾病能解决肩部问题,而是因为它改变了现实时间表的预期。被告知某种疾病具有自限性,与持续两年的疼痛难以调和;内分泌疾病的关联是解释为何常规安慰不适用于所有病例的一个原因。
参考文献
[1] Louwerens JK, Sierevelt IN, van Hove RP, van den Bekerom MP, van Noort A. 伴有和不伴有肩峰下疼痛综合征的成人肩袖肌腱内钙化沉积物的患病率:1219例患者的临床和影像学分析. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2015;24(10):1588-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2015.02.024
[2] Sansone V, Consonni O, Maiorano E, Meroni R, Goddi A. 肩袖钙化性肌腱病:有症状和无症状女性肩部疼痛与影像学特征之间的相关性. Skeletal Radiol. 2015;45(1):49-55. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-015-2240-3
[3] Darrieutort-Laffite C, Varin S, Coiffier G, Albert J, Planche L, Maugars Y, et al. 钙化性肌腱炎穿刺冲洗后是否需要皮质类固醇注射?随机、双盲、非劣效性试验. Ann Rheum Dis. 2019;78(6):837-43. https://doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2018-214971
[4] Gilbert R, Dadoo S, Lin R, Bhardwaj N, McMahon S, Steuer F, et al. 物理治疗、皮质类固醇注射和超声引导下高压冲洗在钙化性肌腱炎非手术治疗中的比较. Orthop J Sports Med. 2026;14(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/23259671261434919
[5] Drummond M, Ayinon C, Lin A, Dunn R. 钙化性肌腱炎三种非手术治疗的相对疗效:物理治疗与类固醇注射与高压冲洗. Orthop J Sports Med. 2021;9(7_suppl4). https://doi.org/10.1177/2325967121S00210
[6] Louwerens JK, Sierevelt IN, van Noort A, van den Bekerom MP. 微创疗法在慢性肩袖钙化性肌腱病管理中的证据:系统综述和荟萃分析. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2014;23(8):1240-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2014.02.002
[7] Louwerens JK, Veltman ES, van Noort A, van den Bekerom MP. 高能体外冲击波疗法与超声引导下穿刺与关节镜手术在慢性钙化性肩袖肌腱病管理中的有效性:系统综述. Arthroscopy. 2015;32(1):165-75. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arthro.2015.06.049
[8] Gatt DL, Charalambous CP. 超声引导下高压冲洗治疗肩部钙化性肌腱炎:包含908例患者的系统综述. Arthroscopy. 2014;30(9):1166-72. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arthro.2014.03.013
[9] Angileri HS, Gohal C, Comeau-Gauthier M, Owen MM, Shanmugaraj A, Terry MA, et al. 慢性肩袖钙化性肌腱炎:比较手术和非手术干预的随机对照试验的系统综述和荟萃分析. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2023;32(8):1746-60. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2023.03.017
[10] Anam E, Zahran S, Roy A, Daneshvar P, Bicknell RT, Janssen I. 肩部钙化性肌腱炎的手术入路:系统综述和荟萃分析. JSES Rev Rep Tech. 2024;4(3):353-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xrrt.2024.03.013
[11] Harvie P, Pollard TC, Carr AJ. 钙化性肌腱炎:自然病程及其与内分泌疾病的相关性. J Shoulder Elbow Surg. 2007;16(2):169-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jse.2006.06.007
Evidence & references
This is the clinical evidence summary written for health professionals. It is technical, and it lists the research this page was built from. You do not need to read it to understand your treatment or to make a decision about it.
Overview
Non-Operative Management
- Conservative treatment is the primary choice for calcific tendinitis, especially in patients with acute calcific tendinitis [22].
- Conservative treatment for calcific tendinitis of the shoulder showed clinically significant improvement, with 72% of excellent or good results regardless of the location, radiologic type and size, and initial symptoms of calcific deposits [8].
- Ultrasound treatment helps resolve calcifications and is associated with short-term clinical improvement in patients with symptomatic calcific tendinitis of the shoulder [1].
- Treatment of calcific tendinitis of the shoulder with shock waves has produced a high rate of success in pain relief and functional restoration with negligible associated complications [9].
- Patients with calcific lesions >1 cm had a 2.8 increased likelihood to undergo operative treatment in the setting of calcific tendinitis of the shoulder [4].
Operative Management
- Surgical treatment of calcific tendinitis gives good results in 88.5% of patients resistant to medical treatment [11].
- Arthroscopic treatment of calcifying tendinitis provides good to excellent clinical results [17].
- Arthroscopic removal of calcification leads to improved clinical outcomes in patients with chronic calcific tendinitis, but at least 6 months of follow-up is needed for these improvements to become statistically significant [13].
- Patients undergoing arthroscopic treatment of a calcific deposit in the shoulder had satisfactory clinical and radiological outcomes at the final follow-up, with functional scores improving slowly and reaching more than 75 percent at six months after surgery [14].
- Endoscopic and open surgery are equally effective in the treatment of chronic calcifying tendinopathy, showing similar clinical and sonographic results [33].
- Routine diagnostic glenohumeral exploration does not appear beneficial in arthroscopic treatment of calcific tendinitis due to the low prevalence of intraarticular pathologies which most frequently do not require surgical treatment [19].
Anatomy & Pathophysiology
Epidemiology and Demographics
- Calcific tendon deposits of the shoulder are a frequent occurrence in the general population, although only one third are painful [2].
- In approximately 20% of cases, subjects with rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy are asymptomatic [7].
- Subjects with rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy were often female aged between 30 and 60 [7].
- Women are approximately 1.5 times more often affected than men [71].
- The incidence of calcifying tendinitis in the general population is 2.5-20% [71].
- In about 10% of individuals, calcific deposits are found bilaterally [7].
Anatomical Location
- Calcium deposits are most commonly located at the level of the supraspinatus tendon [7].
- In approximately 80% of patients, calcifying tendinitis occurs in the supraspinatus tendon, 1.5-2 cm from the tendinous insertion at the greater tuberosity [71].
- The greater tuberosity serves as the attachment site for the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, and teres minor tendons of the rotator cuff [43].
- The subacromial bursa and subdeltoid bursa pass underneath the coracoacromial arch [43].
Pathogenesis and Staging
- The pathogenesis of rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy remains unclear [7, 23].
- Endocrine and metabolic disorders were often described as comorbidity in subjects with rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy [7].
- Endocrine disorders probably play an important role in the development of rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy, but the effect of this process is still unknown [7].
- The reactive calcification theory proposed by Uthoff in 1997 consists of a three-stages process: pre-calcific, calcific, and post-calcific stage [7].
- During the pre-calcific stage, tenocytes undergo a metaplastic transformation into chondrocytes within the site where the calcium deposits will subsequently form [7].
- The calcific stage is divided into three phases: the formative phase, the resting phase, and the resorptive phase [7].
- In the formative phase, calcium deposits increase in size [7].
- The resting phase is characterized by the presence of calcium deposits in the rotator cuff [7].
- The resorptive phase is associated with acute, sudden onset of extremely severe pain [29, 30].
- Uhthoff and Loehr described cartilage metaplasia as a reactionary process in an active biologic environment [23].
- The precalcific stage consists of predominantly fibrocartilaginous metaplasia presumably within less vascular areas of the tendon [23].
- In the formative phase of the calcific stage, matrix vesicles unite to become calcific deposits that are separated by fibrocartilage [23].
- Calcific deposits consist of two different forms of hydroxyapatite: A type and B type [23].
- The composition of an individual deposit can have a mixture of the two types of hydroxyapatite, but each individual phase has a different composition [23].
- Calcium is deposited in the fibrocartilaginous matrix of the tendon as calcium carbonate apatite [29, 30].
- Shorter length of the infraspinatus tendon and specific subacromial bursa anatomy may explain the intramuscular migration of calcium deposits leading to infraspinatus myotendinous junction tears [5].
Clinical Presentation
- Subjects with rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy often reported nightly, acute, unilateral and severe pain with spontaneous onset [7].
- Subjects with rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy often reported deficit in active and passive range of motion, mainly in abduction and flexion [7].
- Calcific tendinitis of the supraspinatus does not typically cause loss of external rotation but is frequently associated with mild isolated restriction of abduction [12].
Classification
- Calcific deposits in the rotator cuff are most commonly located at the level of the supraspinatus tendon [7].
- In approximately 10% of individuals with rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy, the deposits are found bilaterally [7].
- In 20% of cases of rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy, the subjects are asymptomatic [7].
- The supraspinatus tendon was the most frequently affected tendon in 82.7% of patients with calcific deposits within the rotator cuff [41].
- The infraspinatus tendon was affected in 8.4% of patients with calcific deposits within the rotator cuff [41].
- The subscapularis tendon was affected in 8.9% of patients with calcific deposits within the rotator cuff [41].
- Two or more tendons were affected in 9% of patients with calcific deposits within the rotator cuff [41].
- The median length of calcific deposits in the rotator cuff was 1.16 cm [41].
- Calcific deposits were categorized as Gärtner type I in 38.4% of cases, type II in 47.0% of cases, and type III in 14.6% of cases [41].
- A widely accepted method of classification based on radiographic appearance defines type A as dense, rounded, and sharply delineated deposits [69].
- A widely accepted method of classification based on radiographic appearance defines type B as multilobular in appearance, still radiodense, and sharply outlined deposits [69].
- A widely accepted method of classification based on radiographic appearance defines type C as more radiolucent and heterogeneous with irregular outlines [69].
- A widely accepted method of classification based on radiographic appearance defines type D as dystrophic calcific lesions of the tendon insertion [69].
- Calcium deposition can be characterized as discrete or fragmented and dense or fluffy using the classification scheme developed by Mole et al [63].
- Approximately 76% of calcifications were dense (type A or B) and 24% were fluffy (type C) in a study analyzing subacromial decompression and deposit removal [63].
- Calcific tendinitis of the rotator cuff with tuberosity osteolysis is a distinctive form of calcific tendinitis that should be considered in clinical and surgical practice [18].
Clinical Presentation
- In 20% of cases, subjects with rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy are asymptomatic [7].
- Calcium deposits in rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy are most commonly located at the level of the supraspinatus tendon [7].
- In about 10% of individuals with rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy, the deposits are found bilaterally [7].
- Subjects with rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy often report nightly, acute, unilateral and severe pain with spontaneous onset [7].
- Subjects complaining of rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy were often female aged between 30 and 60 [7].
- Calcific tendinitis is a poorly understood condition in which symptoms can be protracted, resulting in time off work and impaired quality of life [6].
- Demographic, radiographic, and clinical features of calcific tendinitis of the shoulder in the Korean population were not different from those of Western populations [20].
- Atypical presentations of calcific tendinitis can involve the teres minor and present with isolated posterior shoulder pain affecting overhead movement [27].
- Recognition of atypical presentations of calcific tendinitis with bone erosion may prevent unnecessary biopsy and overtreatment [15].
Investigations
Imaging Modalities and Techniques
- Ultrasound is a simple and accurate test for identifying rotator cuff tears and calcific tendinitis [51].
- Ultrasound can be useful in guiding injections or barbotage, which involves aspirating calcific deposits in the rotator cuff [51].
- At least two X-ray views should be obtained for shoulder imaging: an anteroposterior view in the plane of the glenoid and an axillary projection with the arm in abduction [51].
- The axillary projection with the arm in abduction shows the relationship of the humeral head to the glenoid [51].
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can identify rotator cuff tears, although accuracy for these is enhanced by combining the scan with arthrography [51].
- MRI is useful to identify osteonecrosis of the humeral head or a bone tumour [51].
- Computed tomography (CT) is helpful for planning fracture surgery and shoulder joint replacement [51].
- The purpose of shoulder imaging is to help establish the diagnosis, determine the severity of the pathoanatomy, assist in surgical planning, and enable the surgeon to illustrate the condition of the shoulder to the patient [26].
- Standardized plain films are almost always sufficient to garner the information needed for shoulder care [26].
- The first key radiographic view is the anteroposterior (AP) view in the plane of the scapula, taken so that the x-ray beam passes through the glenohumeral joint [26].
- The AP view shows the superoinferior position of the humeral head relative to the glenoid, presence of osteophytes, narrowing of the joint space, degree of medial displacement of the humerus, quality of bone, presence of loose bodies, and whether there is humeral head collapse or deformity [26].
- The second key radiographic view is the axillary view taken with the arm in the functional position of elevation in the plane of the scapula [26].
- The axillary view is referred to as the “truth view” because it demonstrates glenohumeral relationships in the functional position of elevation [26].
- CT scans have the disadvantage of being taken with the arm in the adducted position, unlike the axillary truth view [26].
- The standardized axillary view enables measurement of posterior subluxation or “functional decentering” that is not evident in images taken with the arm at the side [26].
- The degree of posterior subluxation can be measured by the position of the center of the humeral head in relation to the plane of the scapula, the position of the center of the humeral head in relation to the glenoid face, or the point of contact of the humeral articular surface on the glenoid articular surface [26].
- The point of contact of the humeral articular surface on the glenoid articular surface reflects the degree of centering of the net humeral joint reaction force on the glenoid [26].
- A robust approach to imaging the shoulder must recognize that the shoulder is a three-dimensional structure that cannot be represented by a single planar view [53].
- Critical relationships, such as the degree of centering of the humeral head, change with the position of the arm [53].
- Shoulder pathology may be found in a large number of different bones and soft tissues [53].
- Overlying and superimposed structures as well as metallic implants may complicate imaging the structures of interest [53].
- Surgeons need to develop a judicious approach to imaging that yields necessary information while avoiding the tendency to "over-image" [53].
Diagnostic Findings and Clinical Correlations
- Restriction of passive glenohumeral abduction combined with normal passive external rotation is a diagnostic feature of calcific tendinitis [12].
- The incidence of rotator cuff tears in cases of calcific tendonitis is higher than previously reported in cohorts undergoing MRI [36].
- Shoulder surgeons should be cautious about rotator cuff tears as a comorbidity in calcific tendinitis and aware of the accuracy limitations of sonographic or MRI evaluation [24].
- Imaging and functional data indicate that calcific tendinitis of the rotator cuff with tuberosity osteolysis is a distinctive form of calcific tendinitis that should be considered in clinical and surgical practice [18].
- This case highlights the importance of considering atypical presentations of calcific tendinitis, particularly in the context of isolated posterior shoulder pain [27].
- Shorter length of the infraspinatus tendon and specific subacromial bursa anatomy may explain the intramuscular migration of calcium deposits leading to the lesion [5].
- The paper illustrates the dynamic pathological process of calcific tendinopathy, including migration patterns of calcium deposits, and discusses clinical and sonographic assessment to optimize diagnosis, rehabilitation, and interventional management for functional recovery [21].
Ultrasound-Specific Assessment and Management
- US elastography is recommended for all patients with calcific tendinosis, except for those with the arc morphological type, before making management decisions [37].
- A complex case report illustrates the value of the surgeon performing ultrasound of the shoulder to diagnose an intraosseous calcifying tendinitis [34].
- Accuracy of rotator cuff ultrasonography depends on the skill of the scanner operator and an awareness of pitfalls that are encountered [49].
- Introducing 10 common pitfalls of rotator cuff ultrasonography helps reduce overdiagnosis or underdiagnosis of rotator cuff pathology [49].
- In 70% of shoulders treated with ultrasonography-guided lavage for rotator cuff calcific tendinitis, the treatment resulted in significant reduction of symptoms [49].
- Calcifications that were softer and middle-sized (12 to 17 mm) had more significant improvement after ultrasonography-guided lavage [49].
- Better results from ultrasonography-guided lavage occurred in patients aged 30 to 40 years [49].
Treatment
Non-Operative Management
- Nonoperative treatment consists of physical therapy, therapeutic modalities, and injections [29].
- Initial conservative treatment includes rest in a sling, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and injection of corticosteroid into the subacromial bursa [61].
- In most cases of calcific tendinitis, clinical symptoms resolve spontaneously in seven to ten days, while the calcium deposit may persist on radiographs [61].
- Symptomatic calcific tendinitis of the shoulder has a good likelihood to completely resolve in the long-term [3].
- Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) effectively reduced painful symptomatology and increased shoulder function in patients with chronic calcific tendinitis of the shoulder [39].
- Shock wave therapy is a safe and effective noninvasive treatment for patients with calcific tendinitis of the shoulder, producing a high rate of success in pain relief and functional restoration with negligible complications [16].
- Shock wave therapy is a heterogeneous but effective treatment for calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder [57].
- Both ultrasound-guided needling and extracorporeal shock wave therapy improved clinical outcomes and eliminated calcium deposits in patients with calcific tendinitis [31].
- Ultrasound-guided needling showed a higher decrease in calcium deposits compared to radial shockwave therapy at 6 weeks [62].
- Ultrasound-guided needling showed a significantly higher improvement in the Oxford Score pre- and post-treatment compared to radial shockwave therapy [62].
- After one year, there was no significant difference in NRS and Oxford Score between ultrasound-guided needling and radial shockwave therapy groups [62].
- Approximately 40% of patients were free of complaints after one year in both the ultrasound-guided needling and radial shockwave therapy groups [62].
- Only 44% of patients in the radial shockwave therapy group would choose this treatment again, compared to almost every patient in the ultrasound-guided needling group [62].
- "Needling and lavage" of the lesion under image guidance has been described and is often successful [29].
- Percutaneous needle barbotage of calcium deposits has been demonstrated to provide pain relief and improved symptoms in patients suffering from calcific tendonitis [40].
- Unsatisfactory results were found in 20% to 30% of cases treated with extracorporeal shockwave therapy [61].
Operative Management
- In athletes with calcifying tendinitis of the supraspinatus tendon with failed nonoperative treatment, complete arthroscopic removal of calcific deposits and tendon repair without acromioplasty results in significant pain relief and improvement in functional outcomes [60].
- Arthroscopic excision has been successful in between 50% and 82% of cases [61].
- Open or arthroscopic surgery are only considered after failure of other noninvasive treatments due to concerns about their invasiveness [61].
- The rotator cuff should be repaired if it is significantly involved during surgical treatment [29].
Complications
- Recurrence and persistent symptoms are not rare in patients with peritendinous calcific deposits in the hand and wrist [10].
- The incidence of rotator cuff tears in cases of calcific tendonitis is higher than previously reported in a cohort of patients who underwent MRI [36].
Recovery
Natural History and Prognosis
- Periarticular calcific deposits are self-limiting and respond to conservative treatment, whereas recurrence and persistent symptoms are not rare in patients with peritendinous calcific deposits in the hand and wrist [10].
Non-Operative Recovery
- Percutaneous needle aspiration and lavage is effective in the short term and in the long term in calcific tendinitis of the shoulder, with results similar to or better than those published for other techniques, and it is only slightly invasive and painful [38].
- A symptom duration of ≤10 months or calcification size of ≤10.82 mm represented the clinical scenarios most likely to show resorption after ESWT [81].
- Calcific deposits disappeared in the same percentage of patients in both groups of a randomized clinical trial comparing two different energy levels for extracorporeal shock-wave therapy [83].
Operative Recovery
- The short-term functional outcome of patients with calcific tendonitis after arthroscopic bursectomy and debridement of the calcific deposit is not influenced if performed in combination with or without a subacromial decompression [35].
Key Evidence
- [L1] In patients with symptomatic calcific tendinitis of the shoulder, ultrasound treatment helps resolve calcifications and is associated with short-term clinical improvement. [1] (10.1056/nejm199905203402002)
- [L3] Calcific tendon deposits of the shoulder are a frequent occurrence in the general population, although only one third are painful. [2] (10.1007/s00256-015-2240-3)
- [L1] Symptomatic calcific tendinitis of the shoulder has a good likelihood to completely resolve in the long-term. [3] (10.1097/phm.0000000000000939)
- [L3] Patients with calcific lesions >1 cm had a 2.8 increased likelihood to undergo operative treatment in the setting of calcific tendinitis of the shoulder. [4] (10.1016/j.jseint.2021.01.013)
- [L4] Shorter length of the infraspinatus tendon and specific subacromial bursa anatomy may explain the intramuscular migration of calcium deposits leading to the lesion. [5] (10.1016/j.jse.2022.01.092)
- [L3] Calcific tendinitis is a poorly understood condition in which symptoms can be protracted, resulting in time off work and impaired quality of life. [6] (10.1016/j.jse.2006.06.007)
- [L3] [7] (10.1177/17585732241244515)
- [L2] Conservative treatment for calcific tendinitis of the shoulder showed clinically significant improvement, with 72% of excellent or good results regardless of the location, radiologic type and size, and initial symptoms of calcific deposits. [8] (10.1016/j.jse.2009.07.008)
- [L2] Treatment of calcific tendinitis of the shoulder with shock waves has produced a high rate of success in pain relief and functional restoration with negligible associated complications. [9] (10.1016/j.jse.2007.03.023)
- [L3] Periarticular calcific deposits are self-limiting and respond to conservative treatment, whereas recurrence and persistent symptoms are not rare in patients with peritendinous calcific deposits in the hand and wrist. [10] (10.1177/1753193413478393)
- [L4] Surgical treatment of calcific tendinitis gives good results in 88.5% of patients resistant to medical treatment. [11] (10.1007/s100670050108)
- [L3] Calcific tendinitis of the supraspinatus does not typically cause loss of external rotation but is frequently associated with mild isolated restriction of abduction. [12] (10.1177/2325967117752907)
- [L4] Arthroscopic removal of calcification leads to improved clinical outcomes in patients with chronic calcific tendinitis, but at least 6 months of follow-up is needed for these improvements to become statistically significant. [13] (10.5397/cise.2018.21.2.75)
- [Paper] Patients undergoing arthroscopic treatment of a calcific deposit in the shoulder had satisfactory clinical and radiological outcomes at the final follow-up, with functional scores improving slowly and reaching more than 75 percent at six months after surgery. [14] (10.1016/j.otsr.2020.03.005)
- [L5] Recognition of atypical presentations of calcific tendinitis with bone erosion may prevent unnecessary biopsy and overtreatment. [15] (10.1016/j.jse.2009.02.009)
- [L3] Shock wave therapy is a safe and effective noninvasive treatment for patients with calcific tendinitis of the shoulder, producing a high rate of success in pain relief and functional restoration with negligible complications. [16] (10.1177/03635465030310031701)
- [L3] Arthroscopic treatment of calcifying tendinitis provides good to excellent clinical results. [17] (10.1177/03635465211037690)
- [L2] Imaging and functional data indicate that calcific tendinitis of the rotator cuff with tuberosity osteolysis is a distinctive form of calcific tendinitis that should be considered in clinical and surgical practice. [18] (10.1016/j.jse.2008.09.016)
- [L3] Routine diagnostic glenohumeral exploration does not appear beneficial in arthroscopic treatment of calcific tendinitis due to the low prevalence of intraarticular pathologies which most frequently do not require surgical treatment. [19] (10.1186/s12891-017-1839-z)
- [L4] This study reported demographic, radiographic, and clinical features of calcific tendinitis of the shoulder in the Korean population, which were not different from those of Western populations. [20] (10.5397/cise.2020.00010)
- [L5] The paper illustrates the dynamic pathological process of calcific tendinopathy, including migration patterns of calcium deposits, and discusses clinical and sonographic assessment to optimize diagnosis, rehabilitation, and interventional management for functional recovery. [21] (10.3390/diagnostics12123097)
- [L5] The primary choice of treatment for calcific tendinitis is conservative, especially in patients with acute calcific tendinitis. [22] (10.5397/cise.2020.00318)
- [L5] [23] (10.5435/jaaos-22-11-707)
- [L3] Shoulder surgeons should be cautious about rotator cuff tears as a comorbidity in calcific tendinitis and aware of the accuracy limitations of sonographic or MRI evaluation. [24] (10.5397/cise.2021.00094)
- [Case_report] This case highlights the importance of considering atypical presentations of calcific tendinitis, particularly in the context of isolated posterior shoulder pain. [27] (10.1016/j.jisako.2025.101055)
- [L2] Both treatment modalities for calcific tendinitis improved clinical outcomes and eliminated calcium deposits. [31] (10.1016/j.jse.2014.06.036)
- [L1] Endoscopic and open surgery are equally effective in the treatment of chronic calcifying tendinopathy, showing similar clinical and sonographic results. [33] (10.1097/01.blo.0000063786.32430.22)
- [L4] This complex case report illustrates the value of the surgeon performing ultrasound of the shoulder to diagnose an intraosseous calcifying tendinitis. [34] (10.1016/j.xrrt.2023.09.012)
- [L1] This study has demonstrated that the short-term functional outcome of patients with calcific tendonitis after arthroscopic bursectomy and debridement of the calcific deposit is not influenced if performed in combination with or without a subacromial decompression. [35] (10.1016/j.arthro.2015.05.015)
- [L4] The incidence of rotator cuff tears in cases of calcific tendonitis in this cohort of patients who underwent MRI is higher than previously reported. [36] (10.1016/j.arthro.2019.11.127)
- [L4] We recommend that US elastography be performed for all patients with calcific tendinosis, except for those with the arc morphological type, before making management decisions. [37] (10.1016/j.jcma.2015.05.006)
- [L4] Percutaneous needle aspiration and lavage is effective in the short term and in the long term in calcific tendinitis of the shoulder, with results similar to or better than those published for other techniques, and it is only slightly invasive and painful. [38] (10.2214/ajr.07.2254)
- [L2] ESWT effectively reduced painful symptomatology and increased shoulder function in patients with chronic calcific tendinitis of the shoulder. [39] (10.1136/ard.62.3.248)
- [L4] [40] (10.1177/2325967121s00655)
- [L3] [41] (10.1016/j.jse.2015.02.024)
- [L1] Shock wave therapy is a heterogeneous but effective treatment for calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder. [57] (10.1177/1941738108331197)
- [L4] In athletes with calcifying tendinitis of the supraspinatus tendon with failed nonoperative treatment, complete arthroscopic removal of calcific deposits and tendon repair without acromioplasty results in significant pain relief and improvement in functional outcomes. [60] (10.1177/2325967116669310)
- [L3] [61] (10.1302/0301-620x.99b12.bjj-2016-1178.r1)
- [L2] [62] (10.1016/j.jor.2017.07.011)
- [L3] [63] (10.1016/j.jse.2010.10.038)
- [L4] [69] (10.1016/j.jse.2004.04.001)
- [L2] [71] (10.1177/0269215510396740)
- [L3] A symptom duration of ≤10 months or calcification size of ≤10.82 mm represented the clinical scenarios most likely to show resorption after ESWT. [81] (10.1177/23259671241231609)
- [L2] Calcific deposits disappeared in the same percentage of patients in both groups. [83] (10.2522/ptj.20110252)
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