Prognosis of shoulder calcifications after irrigation treatment and roentgen findings. A prospective study and literature review

: In 106 shoulder joints of 94 patients suffering from calcifying shoulder (calcifying tendinitis), needling and lavage were performed. Patients were prospectively investigated before and after treatment to examine if location, size, number and density of calcium deposits would predict outcome after the above-mentioned lavage. Excellent and good results were seen for subacromial calcifications and those situated near the tuberculum majus. Density and number of calcifications were without discriminating value, whereas large calcium deposits (> 1,5 cm) and fairly small calcifications (< 1,0 cm) responded very well to conservative treatment as described above.