(Platinum Clinic) Even Small, Hard Calcium Deposits Can Be Removed with Barbotage

Hello. I am Dr. Dongkyu Lee, an orthopedic specialist. Previously, I shared that even hard calcium deposits can be removed with barbotage. https://blog.naver.com/9690067/222791047726

What about when the calcium is both hard and small? In such cases, without highly precise treatment, the rotator cuff can be damaged and the small deposit may not be properly removed. Most hospitals therefore treat small calcium deposits with only steroid injections and shockwave therapy. However, hard deposits are difficult to resolve with shockwave alone, and when steroid injection effects wear off, recurrence is even more common. Today's case involves a patient with a small, hard calcium deposit causing severe inflammation who had received multiple steroid injections and shockwave treatments at another hospital but kept experiencing recurrence. Even injections were no longer helping, and the patient came to me begging for relief. First, an X-ray was performed.

The X-ray shows a small calcium deposit indicated by the yellow arrow within the red circle. Ultrasound was used to check the size and characteristics.

The ultrasound shows a deposit measuring approximately 4.0 x 4.5mm. The dark shadow below the calcium on ultrasound indicates it is a hard deposit. Despite being small and hard, the calcium was precisely targeted and barbotage was performed.

The post-procedure syringe shows white calcium settled at the bottom (yellow arrows). Although not the large volume typically shown on our blog, the small deposit was well fragmented and removed. The post-procedure X-ray shows:

The small calcium deposit visible in the red circle before the procedure is no longer visible in the blue circle after the procedure. Removal was very successful.

Comparing the before and after images side by side makes the calcium removal even more apparent. The patient was thrilled to see the persistent calcium deposit finally gone.

Whether the calcium is small or large, whether hard or soft, calcific tendinitis can be treated with barbotage.

Even small, hard calcium deposits can be removed with barbotage.