The Clinical Outcome Of Cuff-Reserved Calcium Deposit Removing On Extensive Shoulder Calcific Tendonitis

Objective: Through the investigation of the clinical outcome of two different arthroscopic surgery methods on extensive shoulder calcific tendonitis: reserving the rotator cuff and allow part of the calfific deposit remains or complete removing the calcific focus and repair the cuff, to discuss the influence of cuff integrity keeping and complete removal of calfic removal on surgery response.Methods: From Oct 2004 to Apr 2006, 15 cases (15 shoulders) of extensive shoulder rotator cuff calcific tendonitis were treated with calcium removal under arthroscopy. Among them are 6 males and 9 females with an average age of 44.7. The average pre-operation evaluation grade with Constant—Murley was 56 (49—62). During the operation, the rotator cuff integrity were reserved in 8 cases and most of the deposits were removed with some calcium left in the reserved cuff layer. In the other 7 cases, complete deposit clearance was performed and the rotator cuff was repaired subsequently. Average follow-up was 16.7 months (3～35). The Constant—Murley score and X-ray were taken after operation to evaluate shoulder function. And surgical method, cuff integrity and remnant calcium were analyzedResult: All the patients were discharged in 2 weeks and the follow -up materials were collected successfully. 6 cases reported pain dissolved 7 reported significantly relieved and 2 reported pain relieved. The average postoperative Constant—Murley score of cuff-reserved group was 91 (81—95). Among them 7 cases were graded above 89.while the cuff—repaired group was 90.3(80-94). 6 cases were graded above 89. On postoperative radiograph, only 3 cases demonstrate remnant deposit, and disappeared within 3 months after operation. The T test indicate that no significant difference between cuff reserving group (91±4.31分) and cuff repairing group (90. 2±3.94) .Conclusion: Both of the two kinds of operations showed good clinical outcome. The rotator cuff-reserved calcium deposit removal has simplified operation techniques, less costs and fewer complications. It is unnecessary to sacrifice cuff integrity for complete calcium removal.