Calcific tendonitis of the shoulder: is subacromial decompression in combination with removal of the calcific deposit beneficial?

HYPOTHESIS: We postulated that treatment of patients with calcific tendonitis of the supraspinatus tendon by debridement of the calcific deposit alone was comparable to treatment by debridement and concomitant subacromial decompression.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: During a 10-year period, 50 consecutive patients with calcific tendonitis refractory to nonoperative measures were surgically treated by debridement (D) as an isolated procedure (25 patients) or by debridement and concomitant subacromial decompression (D+SAD; 25 patients), and the surgical groups were retrospectively compared. The main outcome of interest was the time to resumption of unrestricted activity without pain. An abbreviated version of disabilities of the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (QuickDASH) score and University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA) shoulder summary scores were compiled at a mean follow-up of 5 years (range, 2-10 years).

RESULTS: Average time to return to activity without pain was significantly shorter for the D group compared with the D+SAD group (11 vs 18 weeks; P < .006). At the final evaluation, QuickDASH scores were equally low (group D, 6; group D + SAD, 11; P = .191), indicating that both treatment groups had high levels of function. The mean UCLA shoulder scores at final evaluation were 33 for both groups (P = .678).

DISCUSSION: Patients treated by debridement of the calcific deposit and concomitant subacromial decompression required a longer time to return to unrestricted activity without pain.

CONCLUSIONS: Debridement of a calcific deposit alone is a better surgical option to treat calcific tendonitis.