4.4 Article

Arthroscopic treatment and subacromial decompression of calcific tendinitis without removal of the calcific deposit results in rapid resolution of symptoms and excellent clinical outcomes in commercial airline pilots and cabin crew

Journal

ARCHIVES OF ORTHOPAEDIC AND TRAUMA SURGERY
Volume 143, Issue 2, Pages 919-926

Publisher

SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s00402-022-04339-y

Keywords

Calcific tendinitis; Arthroscopic subacromial decompression; Shoulder arthroscopy

Ask authors/readers for more resources

The results of this study suggest that subacromial arthroscopic decompression without removal of calcific deposits can achieve excellent short- and mid-term clinical outcomes in patients with calcifying tendinitis, allowing them to return to work early.
Purpose The purpose of this study was to report the results of subacromial arthroscopic decompression (SAD) without removal of the calcific deposits in patients with calcifying tendinitis. Methods All patients between 2016 and 2019 were included if they were aged between 18 and 60 years and had an isolated calcific deposit. The Constant-Murley score (CMS), Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (Quick DASH) score, the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI), the simple shoulder test (SST), and the single assessment numeric evaluation (SANE) were used for assessment. Time to return to work was recorded. Results 24 patients (13 pilots, 11 cabin crew) with a mean age of 47.1 +/- 7.8 years were included. Quick Dash improved from 68.8 preoperative, to 8.4 at 3 months, and 0.1 at 24 months. CMS improved from 37.4 preoperative, to 83 at 3 months, and 94 at 24 months. SPADI improved from 73.8 preoperative, to 5.4 at 3 months, and 1 at 24 months. SST improved from 22.5 preoperative, to 94.2 at 3 months, and 100 at 24 months. SANE improved from 33.5 preoperative, to 78.7 at 3 months, and 95.6 at 24 months. MCID, SCB, and PASS reached values above 83% at 3 months and 100% at 6 months, with the exception of SANE which reached 29% at 3 months and plateaued to 96% at 6 months. The mean time to return to work was 7.1 +/- 2.1 weeks. Pilots returned at a mean of 6.9 +/- 1.8 weeks; cabin crew returned to work at a mean of 7.8 +/- 2.5 weeks. Conclusions The results of this study suggest excellent short- and mid-term clinical outcomes can be achieved in patients with calcific tendinitis undergoing arthroscopic debridement and subacromial decompression without removal of calcific deposits. In this patient population, early surgical intervention was a potentially viable alternative to nonoperative treatment, and allowed early return to work.

Authors

I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.

Reviews

Primary Rating

4.4
Not enough ratings

Secondary Ratings

Novelty
-
Significance
-
Scientific rigor
-
Rate this paper

Recommended

No Data Available
No Data Available