Abstract
Calcific tendinitis is a common disease that predominantly affects individuals aged
between 40 and 60 years. Women seem to be more affected than men. Various factors
have been suggested to play a role in this condition, such as abnormal activity of
the thyroid gland, metabolic diseases (e.g. diabetes), and genetic predisposition.
Various etiological hypotheses have been advanced: the degenerative and multiphasic
theories are the two most accredited ones. Clinically, calcific tendinitis is characterized
by severe, disabling pain which occurs spontaneously, usually in the morning. There
can be concomitant stiffness, giving rise to a frozen shoulder-like clinical picture.
Conventional radiography of the shoulder is the most appropriate imaging approach.
Most cases resolve spontaneously. Many conservative treatments have been reported
in the literature, showing varying levels of evidence of efficacy. Arthroscopic surgery
is the orthopedic specialist’s last option. It is to be noted that post-surgical pain
can persist for many weeks after the operation. Finally, it is important not to forget
the variant characterized by osteolytic involvement of the greater tuberosity, which
has been associated with a worse clinical outcome, both after conservative treatment
and after surgery.
Key Words
arthroscopy - calcific tendinitis - calcium deposit - rotator cuff - shoulder
