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	Arthroscopic Acromioplasty

	Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair

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	Calcific Tendonitis

	Frozen Shoulder

	Open Rotator Cuff Repair

	Open Shoulder Stabilisation

	Pectoralis Major Tears

	Preparing For Shoulder Surgery

	Reverse Shoulder Replacement

	Rotator Cuff Tear

	Shoulder Impingement

	Shoulder Instability

	Shoulder Replacement

	Swimmer’s Shoulder

CALCIFIC TENDONITIS

To view a video of Calcific Tendonitis - Excision of Calcium and Acromioplasty, click here.

Calcium deposits form in the tendons and muscles of the shoulder (the Rotator Cuff) and cause pain in the shoulder. This is a common condition occurring in about 3 percent of the population. The highest incidence is in people aged 30 to 40 years (and occurs in both shoulders in about 15 percent of people).

The cause of this condition is UNKNOWN. The calcium formed does not relate to dietary intake of calcium but may be associated with a traumatic event.

In over 90 percent of cases, the deposits disappear spontaneously (but this can take up to18 months).

Symptoms vary in severity and the condition is completely painless in most people. Some people can get shoulder pain with movements of the arm and occasionally night pain. Symptoms from this condition generally settle with little, if any, treatment.

A small percentage of people get acute, severe and unremitting pain. Fortunately when these symptoms occur, it usually means that the calcium is in the dissolving phase. The severe pain rarely lasts more than 72 hours. Patients with these symptoms require immobilisation of the shoulder in a sling, regular pain killers, ice over the tender area and occasionally injections of cortisone and anti-inflammatory tablets. Very rarely surgery is required. If you have these symptoms you are advised to be patient because after the severe symptoms settle, the residual mild symptoms rarely last more than 3 to 6 weeks.

Some patients develop what is known as IMPINGEMENT of the shoulder. This is where the calcium rubs on the acromion bone when they elevate their arm. Non operative measures using cortisone injections, anti-inflammatory tablets (and occasionally physiotherapy when the shoulder is stiff), alleviates most symptoms. It is best to be patient with this condition as in most cases the calcium reabsorbs into the body spontaneously.

On the occasions that the calcium does not absorb spontaneously then there is the option of arthroscopic (minimally invasive) surgery where one can cut out the calcium as well as trimming the acromion bone (acromioplasty ) which rubs on the rotator cuff with the calcium. The acromioplasty is performed because it is not always possible to completely excise the calcium (without significant damage to the rotator cuff muscles). It takes about 6 months to recover from the surgery and there is a small risk of the calcium recurring.

REMEMBER...

Calcium usually disappears spontaneously with time
Complete resolution of symptoms can take 12 to 18 months
The acute phase can be very painful but rarely lasts more than 72 hours and is treatable
If symptoms are severe or resolution slow, then arthroscopic surgery is indicated