Isolated subacromial decompression for the treatment of chronic shoulder pain with rotator cuff calcification. A review of twenty-seven shoulders, including eighteen evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging after surgery.

We conducted a retrospective study of functional results and imaging study changes after isolated anterosuperior decompression of 27 chronically painful shoulders with calcification of the supraspinatus tendon at the time of surgery (n = 22) or at an earlier date (n = 5). Mean duration of pain at surgery was 4.5 years. Mean time between surgery and evaluation of results was three years. Absence of pain and full range of motion were noted in most cases (70%), usually after four to six months. There were no postoperative exacerbations of pain. The best results were obtained in those patients with a heterogeneous supraspinatus calcification. Most calcifications (18/22) disappeared within one year of surgery. Magnetic resonance imaging findings at last follow-up are reported for 18 shoulders. Functional results were nearly as good as those reported after calcification removal. In patients with shoulder pain and rotator cuff tendon calcifications who fail to respond to conservative therapy and aspiration with lavage, anterosuperior decompression may be the treatment of choice when the calcification is either heterogeneous and located within the tendon or no longer visible. In contrast, curettage may be the best treatment for superficial homogeneous calcifications that can be removed without damaging the rotator cuff.