In a prospective randomised trial of calcifying tendinitis of the rotator cuff, we compared the efficacy of dual treatment sessions delivering 2500 extracorporeal shock waves at either high- or low-energy, via an electromagnetic generator under fluoroscopic guidance. Patients were eligible for the study if they had more than a three-month history of calcifying tendinitis of the rotator cuff, with calcification measuring 10 mm or more in maximum dimension. The primary outcome measure was the change in the Constant and Murley Score. A total of 80 patients were enrolled (40 in each group), and were re-evaluated at a mean of 110 (41 to 255) days after treatment when the increase in Constant and Murley score was significantly greater (t-test, p = 0.026) in the high-energy treatment group than in the low-energy group. The improvement from the baseline level was significant in the high-energy group, with a mean gain of 12.5 (-20.7 to 47.5) points (p < 0.0001). The improvement was not significant in the low-energy group. Total or subtotal resorption of the calcification occurred in six patients (15%) in the high-energy group and in two patients (5%) in the low-energy group. High-energy shock-wave therapy significantly improves symptoms in refractory calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder after three months of follow-up, but the calcific deposit remains unchanged in size in the majority of patients.

No abstract

IV - Retrospective study.

Currently, there is little information on the clinical, radiographic and electric profile of patients younger than 65 years of age with large rotator cuff tear. According to our hypothesis, massive rotator cuff tear, when discovered after recent traumatism, do not provide typical radiographic findings and suprascapular nerve impairment in large rotator cuff tears is uncommon. This is a prospective, descriptive, multicenter study of a series of 112 patients younger than 65 years, including 66 males and 46 females with extensive or massive cuff tear. Duration of symptoms was less than 6 months in 28 cases and secondary to trauma in 57 cases. Patients had loss of elevation or external rotation or both in 57 cases. An electromyogram (EMG) of suprascapular nerve was performed in 50 cases. A higher incidence of advanced fatty infiltration of the infraspinatus muscle (>stage 2 according to Goutallier) was observed in case of long-term symptomatology or in the absence of known trauma. Traumatic status was commonly found in patients with functional deficit in shoulder elevation, thus reporting a significantly lower Constant score (p<0.0001). Patients with both loss of shoulder elevation and external rotation had a significantly narrower subacromial space (5 mm versus 7.2 mm). No significant relationship could be established between electric impairment and massive cuff tear. According to the present study, in case of traumatic context and recent symptomatology, subacromial height and fatty infiltration of the infraspinatus muscle are better prognostic factors despite a pseudoparalytic shoulder. Repair should thus be considered. Moreover, the interest of a preoperative suprascapular nerve EMG is questionable.

The techniques are complementary and therapeutic success stems from an algorithm adapted to the individual patient with, over the first 3 months, successive self-rehabilitation and conventional rehabilitation, possibly completed by capsular distension or anesthesia between the 3rd and 6th months. In case of failure at 6 months, endoscopic capsulotomy can be proposed. Therapeutic patient education and active participation are the key to treatment success or failure.