Which method is more effective in treatment of calcific tendinitis in the shoulder? Prospective randomized comparison between ultrasound-guided needling and extracorporeal shock wave therapy.

Abstract

HYPOTHESIS:

Ultrasound (US)-guided needling with subacromial corticosteroid injection is more effective than extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) for function restoration and pain relief in patients with calcific tendinitis of the shoulder.

METHODS:

Fifty-four patients diagnosed with unilateral painful calcific tendinitis were randomly allocated to a US needling or ESWT group. The US needling group underwent US-guided needling and received a subacromial corticosteroid injection. The ESWT group received ESWT 3 times a week. All patients were prospectively evaluated; American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons, Simple Shoulder Test, and visual analog scale for pain scores were recorded before the procedure and at 6 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and the last follow-up. The size and morphology of the deposits were evaluated by radiography.

RESULTS:

The average follow-up period was 23.0 months. At last follow-up, the mean size of the deposits was significantly different between the 2 groups (P = .001); it decreased to 0.5 mm from 14.8 mm in the US needling group and to 5.6 mm from 11.0 mm in the ESWT group. There were also significant improvements in clinical outcomes in both groups after treatment (P < .05). At 1-year follow-up, the US needling group had significantly better scores than the ESWT group with regard to the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons assessment (90.3 and 74.6, respectively; P = .001), Simple Shoulder Test (83.3 and 70.8, respectively; P = .015), and visual analog scale for pain (1.4 and 3.3, respectively; P = .003).The initial calcium deposit sizes and clinical outcomes were weakly correlated in both groups (P > .05).

CONCLUSION:

Both treatment modalities for calcific tendinitis improved clinical outcomes and eliminated calcium deposits. US-guided needling treatment, however, was more effective in function restoration and pain relief in the short term.

• Authors: Yang-Soo Kim, Hyo-Jin Lee, Yoon-vin Kim, Chae-Gwan Kong
• Journal: Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery (J Shoulder Elbow Surg) Vol. 23 Issue 11 Pg. 1640-6 (Nov 2014) ISSN: 1532-6500 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25219475 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2014 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Glucocorticoids
• Methylprednisolone Acetate
• Methylprednisolone

Topics

• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Calcinosis (therapy)
• Female
• Glucocorticoids (administration & dosage)
• High-Energy Shock Waves (therapeutic use)
• Humans
• Injections, Intra-Articular
• Male
• Methylprednisolone (administration & dosage, analogs & derivatives)
• Methylprednisolone Acetate
• Middle Aged
• Needles
• Prospective Studies
• Shoulder
• Shoulder Pain (therapy)
• Tendinopathy (therapy)
• Ultrasonic Therapy