Hello, I'm Dr. Dongkyu Lee, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon. So many patients are struggling terribly with shoulder calcific tendinitis. Because the pain is so severe, surgery is sometimes performed... As I've mentioned before, shoulder calcific tendinitis can be treated without surgery. It can be treated without surgery through calcification crushing and aspiration. For a detailed explanation, please refer to the link below. https://blog.naver.com/9690067/223320621867
🔗 https://blog.naver.com/9690067/223320621867So how is shoulder calcific tendinitis surgery performed? Most cases are treated via arthroscopy. The rotator cuff over the calcification is incised to access and remove the calcification inside. A shaver is also used to remove the calcification, which inevitably damages healthy tendon tissue during the process. After removing the calcification, the incised (artificially torn) rotator cuff tendon is sutured to complete the surgery. The specifics may vary slightly depending on the calcification's location, but the overall procedure is quite similar to rotator cuff repair surgery. As a result, a brace must be worn after surgery, and a period of rest is needed before rehabilitation can begin. Therefore, surgery for shoulder calcific tendinitis requires at least 4 weeks of recovery, and when including rehabilitation, it takes over 3 months. So how does calcification crushing and aspiration compare? Using a small needle-like specially designed guide and drill, only the inside of the calcification is crushed and then aspirated out. Because this method does not damage healthy tendon tissue or create any artificial tears, there is no need for a brace, and you can return to your daily activities the very next day.
The comparison table clearly shows the differences between surgery and calcification crushing and aspiration (non-surgical). A patient came to me for treatment of shoulder calcific tendinitis. They traveled all the way from Gwangju in Jeolla Province. They said they got up at the crack of dawn to make the trip and begged me to free them from the pain. They also had calcific tendinitis in their right shoulder and had undergone surgery 3 years ago. They said they suffered tremendously after the surgery — not just the pain, but they had to wear a brace for nearly 2 months. After that, their shoulder stiffened, and they spent almost an entire year going through rehabilitation. They pleaded with me to treat them without surgery. Let's take a look at their condition.
On the X-ray, calcification is visible in the posterior region of the shoulder rotator cuff. I used ultrasound to examine the precise location, size, and characteristics of the calcification.
On ultrasound, the calcification was located in the posterior portion of the supraspinatus, measuring 0.47 x 1.06 cm. Some portions of the calcification were visible while others were not, suggesting a mixed consistency of both hard and paste-like calcification coexisting together. Calcification crushing and aspiration was performed. The procedure took approximately 15 to 20 minutes. Looking at the post-procedure syringe photo:
White calcification sediment can be seen settled at the bottom of the syringe. A follow-up X-ray was taken after the procedure.
On the post-procedure X-ray, the calcification has been almost completely removed. Let's compare the before and after.
Comparing the before and after images, you can see the calcification has been almost perfectly removed. When I showed the patient the before and after images and the syringe photo, they expressed frustration about why they had undergone surgery 3 years ago when treatment could have been this simple. They said what took 15 minutes could have spared them an entire year of suffering... The patient was deeply grateful that their calcification could be treated non-surgically, and they headed back to Gwangju.
Shoulder calcific tendinitis does not require surgery. Calcification crushing and aspiration can treat it non-surgically. You can return to your daily life immediately. Dr. Dongkyu Lee
