Calcific tendinitis
Revision as of 05:21, 18 February 2015 by Rossdonaldson1 (talk | contribs) (Rossdonaldson1 moved page Calcific Tendinitis to Calcific tendinitis)
Background
- Self-limiting disorder of calcium deposition w/in one or more tendons of the rotator cuff
- With time, the calcium undergoes painful resorption w/ subsequent tendon healing
- Middle-aged pts are most commonly affected (rarely seen in pts >70yrs)
- Adhesive capsulitis is most common complication
Clinical Features
- "Calcification" phase
- Pt 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
Diagnosis
- 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 pts)
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
Treatment
- 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 w/ pillow beneath axilla
Disposition
- PMD referral within 1wk
See Also
Source
- Tintinalli