The role of subacromial shoulder irrigation in the treatment of calcific rotator cuff tendinosis: a case series.

Overview

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy of subacromial shoulder irrigation in the treatment of calcific rotator cuff tendinosis. DESIGN: Consecutive case series. SETTING: Musculoskeletal rehabilitation clinic. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty-eight tennis players (16 women, 12 men; mean age, 44.3y) with calcific rotator cuff tendinosis, who failed conservative measures. INTERVENTION: Subjects underwent fluoroscopically guided subacromial shoulder irrigation (50-75 mL of normal saline in 10 mL aliquots) followed by a corticosteroid injection (5 mL solution of 1 mL triamcinolone [40 mg/mL] and 4 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine). After the procedure, all patients completed the same exercise regimen. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: LInsalata Shoulder Rating Questionnaire (LSRQ) score, visual numeric pain score, and patient satisfaction. RESULTS: At 1-year follow-up, 85.7% reported a successful outcome with significant improvements in the LSQR and numeric pain scores. CONCLUSIONS: Our minimally invasive approach was safe, well tolerated, and effective, which should make it useful in providing relief for patients with rotator cuff tendinosis.