Calcific tendinitis: Difference between revisions
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**With time, the calcium undergoes painful resorption with subsequent tendon healing | **With time, the calcium undergoes painful resorption with subsequent tendon healing | ||
*Middle-aged patients are most commonly affected (rarely seen in patients >70yrs) | *Middle-aged patients are most commonly affected (rarely seen in patients >70yrs) | ||
*Adhesive capsulitis is most common complication | *[[Adhesive capsulitis]] is most common complication | ||
==Clinical Features== | ==Clinical Features== | ||
Revision as of 20:25, 29 April 2017
Background
- Self-limiting disorder of calcium deposition within one or more tendons of the rotator cuff
- With time, the calcium undergoes painful resorption with subsequent tendon healing
- Middle-aged patients are most commonly affected (rarely seen in patients >70yrs)
- Adhesive capsulitis is most common complication
Clinical Features
- "Calcification" phase
- Patient may be asymptomatic or have mild pain at rest or at night
- "Resorptive" phase (1-2wks)
- Sudden onset of severe pain, usually at rest, worse at night
- Any shoulder motion reproduces significant pain
- TTP over proximal humerus near tendinous insertion of rotator cuff
- "Postcalcific phase: variable levels of pain and shoulder dysfunction
Evaluation
- Imaging
- Plain films will show calcification in the tendon(s) of the rotator cuff
- Note: calcification is not specific for calcific tendinitis (may occur in asymptomatic patients)
Differential Diagnosis
Shoulder and Upper Arm Diagnoses
Traumatic/Acute:
- Shoulder Dislocation
- Clavicle fracture
- Humerus fracture
- Scapula fracture
- Acromioclavicular joint injury
- Glenohumeral instability
- Rotator cuff tear
- Biceps tendon rupture
- Triceps tendon rupture
- Septic joint
Nontraumatic/Chronic:
- Rotator cuff tear
- Impingement syndrome
- Calcific tendinitis
- Adhesive capsulitis
- Biceps tendinitis
- Subacromial bursitis
- Cervical radiculopathy
Refered pain & non-orthopedic causes:
- Referred pain from
- Neck
- Diaphragm (e.g. gallbladder disease)
- Brachial plexus injury
- Axillary artery thrombosis
- Thoracic outlet syndrome
- Subclavian steal syndrome
- Pancoast tumor
- Myocardial infarction
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary embolism
Management
- Nonoperative management is successful in 90% of cases
- Analgesia
- NSAIDs, opioids
- Avoid immobilization
- Rest shoulder in abduction on back of a chair as soon as tolerable
- Sleep with pillow beneath axilla
Disposition
- Primary care referral within 1wk