New Treatment for Tendonitis is Non Invasive, Could Prevent Bursitis

A new technique for reducing tendonitis in the shoulder is both minimally invasive and significantly reduces pain associated with the condition according to a study presented on Wednesday at the Radiological Society of North America meeting. This new procedure called ultrasound guided non-surgical therapy addresses pain caused from calcific tendonitis of the rotator cuff, helping to restore ease of movement in the shoulder.

Calcific tendonitis occurs when calcium deposits accumulate within the tendons in the shoulder's rotator cuff. Commonly found in adults 30 to 40 years of age, it can often restrict movement and cause pain. While some cases can be treated with physical therapy or anti-inflammatory medications, severe cases can require surgery or shockwave treatment to restore mobility.

"This is a quick, successful and inexpensive therapy for tendon calcifications," said Luca M. Sconfienza, M.D., from the Department of Radiology at A.O. Ospedale Santa Corona in Pietra Ligure and the Department of Experimental Medicine at the University of Genova in Italy. "It provides significant and long-lasting reduction of symptoms."

During this new procedure, only the shoulder is anesthetized and a radiologist uses ultrasound to inject a saline solution into the rotator cuff. The saline in the procedure helps to shatter calcium deposits. Then another needle in inserted to remove the calcium suspended in the saline solution. The recovery time is only an hour, and calcium does not ever return to the area that has been treated.

"As people age, many complain of pain in the shoulders. This pain is commonly caused by calcium build-up," Dr. Sconfienza said. "This procedure can allow them to feel better immediately with little cost."

In over 70 percent of the 2543 patients treated, the new technique reduced most of the symptoms in one treatment. A further 23.6 patients needed a second treatment to remove additional calcifications, while 3.8 percent of patients had naturally the calcification naturally break up.

This could be an excellent solution for people who wish to avoid the pain and decreased mobility while waiting for the shoulder's calcifications to break up naturally.

"Calcifications can break up on their own. Unfortunately, this can take from a few months to several years," Dr. Sconfienza said. "This means the pain could persist for years before its spontaneous resolution."

Calcium that breaks up naturally can travel around the tendon and irritate the subacromial bursa that helps the functioning fo the tendon. The calcium particles can then cause bursitis, which is not only painful, but associated with long recovery times Source:

Radiological Society of North America, "Minimally invasive treatment reduces shoulder pain from tendonitis" Eurekalert