Acute Symptoms on Rotator Cuff Calcific Tendinitis is Effectively Relieved by Ultrasound Guided Percutaneous Needle Lavage Procedure: a Case Report

INTRODUCTION: Rotator cuff calcific tendinitis (RCCT) frequently manifests as acute shoulder pain during the acute resorptive phase. Pain typically worse at night and limited range of motion (ROM) with muscle spasm. Several treatment options have been proposed. In this case, a single needle ultrasound-guided percutaneous lavage (UGPL) combined with corticosteroid subdeltoid bursa injection (SDBI) with a good outcome. CASE PRESENTATION: A Female, 59 years old, presents with left RCCT acute pain (VAS 7/10) for 2 days and limited painful shoulder ROM. Inflammation and local tenderness found on the left shoulder, ultrasonography shows calcification in the left infraspinatus tendon with sub-deltoid bursa fluid. Patient in sitting position, ultrasound probe placed at long axis of infraspinatus tendon. Using a 23G needle 5 ml syringe, 1% lidocaine infiltrated until the needle penetrates the calcification site. Then a small amount of normal saline (NaCl) with lidocaine injected in a pulsating manner, observed until chalky matter backflows, mixed with NaCl in the syringe. Repeat this procedure until chalky backflow is minimal. Finally, 10 ml of Triamcinolone Acetonide 40 mg mixed with 2 ml lidocaine 2% SDBI using the same needle. Dramatic shoulder pain relieve (VAS 2/10) is immediately achieved after the procedure. One week follow up, the patient is pain-free and regains full ROM of her left shoulder. DISCUSSION: Several methods are proposed for the treatment of acute RCCT, including corticosteroid injection and arthroscopy debridement. UPGL is an attractive option because it is minimally invasive, can be performed in-office setting, and pain relief is obtained immediately by decompressing and removing inflamed calcified sites. CONCLUSION: The treatment in acute pain RCCT using UGPL combined with corticosteroid SDBI provides a good outcome.