Rotator cuff calcifications: treatment with US-guided technique.

PURPOSE

The authors developed and tested a technique to treat calcific tendinitis in the rotator cuff with multiple needle punctures, aspiration, and lavage under ultrasonographic (US) guidance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Atraumatic pain in the shoulders of a 46-year-old woman and a 42-year-old man was resistant to conservative therapy. With local anesthesia and continuous three-dimensional US visualization, the tips of two 18-gauge needles were placed within the calcification in the rotator cuff. Saline solution was injected and aspirated with the needles until the aspirate was free of calcific particles.

RESULTS

Both patients experienced complete relief of pain and recovery of full range of motion, one on the 3rd day after treatment and one within 15 minutes.

CONCLUSION

Use of this US-guided technique is successful to treat calcific tendinitis in the rotator cuff without the radiation exposure of fluoroscopic guidance.