Ebenbichler, N Engl J Med 1999 - Ultrasound Therapy for Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder

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Ultrasound Therapy for Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder

Ebenbichler, Fialka-Moser, et al.·N Engl J Med·1999·296 citations·Commentary

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Background and Methods

Although ultrasound therapy is used to treat calcific tendinitis of the shoulder, its efficacy has not been rigorously evaluated. We conducted a randomized, double-blind comparison of ultrasonography and sham insonation in patients with symptomatic calcific tendinitis verified by radiography. Patients were assigned to receive 24 15-minute sessions of either pulsed ultrasound (frequency, 0.89 MHz; intensity, 2.5 W per square centimeter; pulsed mode, 1:4) or an indistinguishable sham treatment to the area over the calcification. The first 15 treatments were given daily (five times per week), and the remainder were given three times a week for three weeks. Randomization was conducted according to shoulders rather than patients, so a patient with bilateral tendinitis might receive either or both therapies.

Results

We enrolled 63 consecutive patients (70 shoulders).
54 patients (61 shoulders) completed the study.
There were 32 shoulders in the ultrasound-treatment group and 29 in the sham-treatment group.
After 6 weeks of treatment, calcium deposits had resolved in 6 shoulders (19 percent) in the ultrasound-treatment group and decreased by at least 50 percent in 9 shoulders (28 percent), as compared with respective values of zero and 3 (10 percent) in the sham-treatment group (P=0.003).
At the 9-month follow-up visit, calcium deposits had resolved in 13 shoulders (42 percent) in the ultrasound-treatment group and improved in 7 shoulders (23 percent), as compared with respective values of 2 (8 percent) and 3 (12 percent) in the sham-treatment group (P=0.002).
At the end of treatment, patients who had received ultrasound treatment had greater decreases in pain and greater improvements in the quality of life than those who had received sham treatment; at 9 months, the differences between the groups were no longer significant.

Conclusions

In patients with symptomatic calcific tendinitis of the shoulder, ultrasound treatment helps resolve calcifications and is associated with short-term clinical improvement.

Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.

Ultrasound Therapy for Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder

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Ultrasound Therapy for Calcific Tendinitis of the Shoulder

Ebenbichler, Fialka-Moser, et al.·N Engl J Med·1999·296 citations·Commentary

Free Full Text·DOI·PubMed

|

Background and Methods

Although ultrasound therapy is used to treat calcific tendinitis of the shoulder, its efficacy has not been rigorously evaluated. We conducted a randomized, double-blind comparison of ultrasonography and sham insonation in patients with symptomatic calcific tendinitis verified by radiography. Patients were assigned to receive 24 15-minute sessions of either pulsed ultrasound (frequency, 0.89 MHz; intensity, 2.5 W per square centimeter; pulsed mode, 1:4) or an indistinguishable sham treatment to the area over the calcification. The first 15 treatments were given daily (five times per week), and the remainder were given three times a week for three weeks. Randomization was conducted according to shoulders rather than patients, so a patient with bilateral tendinitis might receive either or both therapies.

Results

We enrolled 63 consecutive patients (70 shoulders).
54 patients (61 shoulders) completed the study.
There were 32 shoulders in the ultrasound-treatment group and 29 in the sham-treatment group.
After 6 weeks of treatment, calcium deposits had resolved in 6 shoulders (19 percent) in the ultrasound-treatment group and decreased by at least 50 percent in 9 shoulders (28 percent), as compared with respective values of zero and 3 (10 percent) in the sham-treatment group (P=0.003).
At the 9-month follow-up visit, calcium deposits had resolved in 13 shoulders (42 percent) in the ultrasound-treatment group and improved in 7 shoulders (23 percent), as compared with respective values of 2 (8 percent) and 3 (12 percent) in the sham-treatment group (P=0.002).
At the end of treatment, patients who had received ultrasound treatment had greater decreases in pain and greater improvements in the quality of life than those who had received sham treatment; at 9 months, the differences between the groups were no longer significant.

Conclusions

In patients with symptomatic calcific tendinitis of the shoulder, ultrasound treatment helps resolve calcifications and is associated with short-term clinical improvement.

Copyright remains with the authors and publisher.

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