Calcific Tendinitis in the Shoulder Region: A Review of 43 Operated Shoulders

Abstract

Forty-three shoulders in 38 patients have been reviewed. They were all operated on for long-standing incapacitating calcific tendinitis in the region of the supraspinatus tendon. Excellent or good results were obtained in 34 out of 43 shoulders. The methods employed were simple incision and curettement in 12 shoulders, curettement combined with partial resection of the acromion in 26 shoulders, and resection of the acromion in 5 shoulders. The results were the same in these three groups and about 80 per cent of the operations were successful. The most commonly affected patients were women of 45-50 years of age.