Arthroscopic treatment of non-homogeneous calcifying tendinitis of the rotator cuff

George El Rassi, Jihad Matta, Georges Haidamous, Patrik Brogard, Philipe Clavert, Jean-Francois Kempf, Jihad Irani

The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical outcome of arthroscopic treatment for patients with non-homogeneous infiltrated calcifying tendinitis of the rotator cuff (type III), and to assess the optimal method for this arthroscopic treatment. We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 81 patients who underwent arthroscopic treatment for non-homogeneous infiltrated calcifying tendinitis of the rotator cuff (type III). Patients were divided into two groups: Group A (n = 31) consisted of patients who underwent excision of calcification, and Group B comprised patients who underwent acromioplasty alone (n = 50). The clinical outcome of treatment was assessed using Constant-Murley score. Twenty-three of the 81 patients were males and 58 were females. The mean duration of symptoms from onset to the first clinic visit was 3.88 years (SD ± 3.06 years). The right side was involved in 47 patients, the left side in 34 patients, and none had bilateral involvement. Patients from Group B had higher 16 improvement of their Constant-Murley score (from 48.96 to 88.06) when 17 compared to group A (from 45.39 to 67.23). Treatment of type III calcifying tendinitis is different than type I and II. Subacromial decompression may be considered in all patients suffering from type III non-homogeneous infiltrated calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder.