Clinical and Structural Results of Rotator Cuff Repair Compared With Rotator Cuff Debridement in Arthroscopic Treatment of Calcifying Tendinitis of the Shoulder

Background: Arthroscopic treatment of calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder reveals good to excellent results. However, whether the tendon needs to be repaired after removal of the calcific deposit or simply debrided remains unclear. Purpose: To evaluate the structural and clinical results after arthroscopic calcific deposit removal with additional rotator cuff repair or rotator cuff debridement. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: A total of 44 patients (46 shoulders) were enrolled in this retrospective cohort study with a mean follow-up of 58.4 months. Patients underwent arthroscopic removal of a calcific deposit and bursectomy after failed nonoperative treatment. A total of 22 patients received additional rotator cuff repair irrespective of the degree of debridement (the repair group), whereas 22 patients received a simple rotator cuff debridement without additional repair (the debridement group). Groups were comparable in sex, age, and size and consistency of the deposits according to the Gärtner and Bosworth classifications. Clinical evaluation was performed by the Constant score, Simple Shoulder Test, American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES) score, and numerical rating scales for pain, function, and satisfaction. In 29 patients (14 in the debridement group and 15 in the repair group), additional magnetic resonance imaging at follow-up was performed to evaluate the structural results using the Sugaya classification. Results: All patients were satisfied with the results of surgery; 100% of the repair group and 95.7% of the debridement group reported they would undergo the surgical procedure again. Comparison of the clinical results showed significantly better results in the repair group versus the debridement group for the Constant score (86.2 vs 80.6, respectively; P = .04), the ASES score (98.3 vs 88.9; P = .004), the Simple Shoulder Test (11.6 vs 10; P = .005), and the numerical rating scales for pain (0.1 vs 0.8; P = .007), function (9.6 vs 8.8; P = .008), and satisfaction (9.8 vs 9.1; P = .036). Comparison of the postoperative tendon integrity showed 80% Sugaya grade I in the rotator cuff repair group and 64% Sugaya grade II in the debridement group, with a statistically significant difference in favor of the repair group ( P = .004). Postoperative clinical evaluation revealed no positive O’Brien tests in the repair group, whereas approximately one-third of the debridement group showed a positive O’Brien test during examination. Conclusion: Arthroscopic removal of calcific deposits with rotator cuff debridement or cuff repair showed good to excellent clinical and structural midterm results. However, patients who underwent additional repair of the tendon defect had significantly better clinical results as well as better structural results in terms of tendon integrity.

Arthroscopic Excision of Calcification in Lateral Collateral Ligament of Knee with Direct Lateral (Bengaluru Chandrashekar) Portal

Calcium apatite deposition disease (CADD) is a common entity characterized by deposition of calcium apatite crystals within and around connective tissues, usually in a periarticular location 1. Many different locations of CADD have been described amongst which, lateral collateral ligament (LCL) of the knee is a rare location 2. The first ever case of calcific deposits in the lateral collateral ligament of the knee was reported by Anderson et al 3 in 2003. A few isolated case reports of LCL calcification are published in the literature 4,5 but arthroscopic excision of calcific deposit in LCL has not been described yet in the literature. Here we are describing 2 cases of arthroscopic excision of calcific deposits in LCL of the knee by a new portal called ‘Direct lateral portal' for the knee.

Calcific deposit needling in combination with extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT): A proposed treatment for supraspinatus calcified tendinopathy

Background: Calcified tendinopathy of the rotator cuff is one of the most common conditions concerning the shoulder pathology. It is characterized by a reactive calcification that affects the tendons being part of the rotator cuff. The reported prevalence varies from 2.7% to 22%. Most of the patients can be treated effectively with non-operative measures such as anti-inflammatory drugs, subacromial injection of steroid, physiotherapy, extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) and needle aspiration irrigation. Results of a treatment combining some of these methods have not been reported. Objectives: The purpose of this study is to present the radiological as well as the clinical results of our proposed protocol which combines drilling of the calcium deposits with xylocaine under ultrasound guidance, with a specific program of physiotherapy for 1 month without the use of NSAIDs. Methods: Sixty-six consecutive patients (68 shoulders) were treated for calcified tendinitis of supraspinatus, which was diagnosed clinically and radiologically, with needle drilling using xylocaine under ultrasound guidance. After the drilling the patient followed a physiotherapy protocol with ESWT which included five visits within a month. After the end of the physiotherapy, the patients were evaluated clinically and radiologically. The Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain and the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) score were measured before and after the end of the therapy. Results: All the patients showed clinical improvement of the symptoms at the follow-up. The mean VAS score showed improvement from 8.1 to 3.3 whereas the mean DASH score was 27 and after the end of the therapy 5. Radiologically all but one calcific deposits were disappeared. Conclusions: The ultrasound-guided drilling of the calcific deposit using xylocaine, in combination with physiotherapy using ESWT provides a reliable alternative treatment for the calcific tendinitis of the supraspinatus

Decompression for Unerupted Primary Mandibular Second Molars Associated with Physical Barriers: Case Reports

Primary impaction of primary teeth might be due to genetic predisposition or physical disturbance including odontoma, supernumerary tooth, and crowded tooth. Among them, calcific deposit or odontoma is commonly associated with primary dentition. Early diagnosis and treatment is the key to prevent complications. However, results of treatment may vary depending on the condition of unerupted tooth. Here we report two clinical cases of unerupted primary mandibular second molars with physical barriers such as compound odontoma and calcific deposit focusing on diagnostic means and the importance of early treatment of these lesions.

Outcome of Needle Fenestration, Subacromial Steroid and Diclofenac Phonophoresis in Acute Calcific Tendinitis of Shoulder

Introduction: Acute calcific tendinitis of shoulder is very painful and disturbing condition. There are many modalities with variable outcome to address the condition. We studied needling technique with multiple fenestration, subacromial steroid and diclofenac phonophoresis and evaluated the outcome in term of pain relief and improvement of shoulder function at a simple outpatient clinical set up without image or ultrasound guidance. Methods: We studied 18 cases of acute calcific tendinitis presenting within one week from onset of symptoms and X-ray showing calcific deposit. All underwent needle fenestration at maximum tender site with lignocaine loaded syringe, subsequent injection of 40 mg subacromial methylprednisolone and diclofenac phonophoresis done by qualified physiotherapist for five days. Visual Analogue Scale was used to measure pain, Simple shoulder Test applied to evaluate shoulder function and size of calcific deposit was measured at maximum length. Results: Pain subsided dramatically and there was substantial improvement of shoulder function within a week. Conclusions: Needle fenestration and subacromial methylprednisolone along with diclofenac phonophoresis without image guidance gives excellent pain reduction and improves shoulder function which can be done at simple outpatient clinic.

Ultrasonographic Tendon Alteration in Relation to Parathyroid Dysfunction in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients

Objective To find the nature of tendon involvement in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients on regular hemodialysis (RD), and its relationship to parathyroid hormone (PTH) level using ultrasonography (US). Method A total of 50 CKD patients on RD subjected to musculoskeletal examination of knee and ankle, laboratory evaluation, and US of quadriceps tendon and Achilles tendon were involved. Results Ankle joint tenderness was the most frequent sign on examination. US of the Achilles tendons showed tenderness during probing in 44% patients, calcific deposition in 24% patients, abnormal peritendon tissue in 20% patients, and abnormal anteroposterior (A-P) middle and distal one-third thicknesses of the Achilles tendon in 20% and 18% patients, respectively. PTH positively correlated with the duration of dialysis, serum phosphorus level, presence of calcific deposit, and increased thickness of the Achilles tendon. Conclusion The most common ultrasonographic finding in CKD patients on RD was Achilles tendon tenderness during probing. PTH level positively correlated with the duration of dialysis, presence of calcific deposit, and increased thickness of Achilles tendon.