SHOULDER CALCIFIC DEPOSITS

Calcific Tendinitis (also calcific/calcifying/calcified/calcareous tenonitis/tendonitis/tendinopathy, and tendinosis calcarea) is a disorder characterized by deposits of hydroxyapatite (a crystalline calcium phosphate) in any tendon of the body, but most commonly in the tendons of the rotator cuff (shoulder), causing pain and inflammation.

Pain is often aggravated when raising the arm above the shoulder level or when lying on the shoulder. Pain may waken the patient from sleep. Other discomforts may be stiffness, snapping, catching, or weakness of the shoulder.

The condition is related to and may cause "frozen shoulder".

The calcific deposits are visible on X-ray as discrete lumps or cloudy areas. The deposits look cloudy on X-ray if they are in the process of re-absorption, and this is also when they cause the most pain. The deposits are crystalline when in their resting phase and like toothpaste in the re-absorptive phase. However, poor correlation exists between the appearance of a calcific deposit on plain x-rays and its consistency on needling.

TREATMENTS

Calcific tendonitis is first treated by dietary regulations, Extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ECSW), medications, injections and physical therapy.

In case of failure in treating the problem through conventional techniques, surgery may be considered.

Removing the deposits either with open shoulder surgery or arthroscopic surgery have a high success rate.

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