Calcific tendinitis: Natural history and association with endocrine disorders

• Published in: Journal of shoulder and elbow surgery Vol. 16; no. 2; pp. 169 - 173
• Main Authors: Harvie, Paul, MRCS, Pollard, Thomas C.B., MRCS, Carr, Andrew J., FRCS
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01-03-2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Bone Diseases, Endocrine - complications; Calcinosis - diagnosis; Calcinosis - etiology; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Humans; Juxtaarticular diseases. Extraarticular rhumatism; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Orthopedics; Retrospective Studies; Tendinopathy - diagnosis; Tendinopathy - etiology; Juxtaarticular disease; Tendinitis; Case history; Diseases of the osteoarticular system
• ISSN: 1058-2746; 1532-6500
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jse.2006.06.007

A retrospective, observational cohort study of 102 consecutive patients (125 shoulders) with calcific tendinitis is presented. Of the patients, 73 (71.6%) were women and 29 (28.4%) were men. Compared with population prevalences, significant levels of endocrine disorders were found. We compared 66 patients (62 women [93.9%] and 4 men [6.1%]; mean age, 50.3 years) (81 shoulders) with associated endocrine disease with 36 patients (11 women [30.6%] and 25 men [69.4%]); mean age, 52.4 years) (44 shoulders) without endocrine disease. The endocrine cohort was significantly younger than the non-endocrine cohort when symptoms started (mean, 40.9 years and 46.9 years, respectively), had significantly longer natural histories (mean, 79.7 months compared with 47.1 months), and had a significantly higher proportion who underwent operative treatment (46.9% compared with 22.7%). Disorders of thyroid and estrogen metabolism may contribute to calcific tendinitis etiology. Classifying calcific tendinitis into type I (idiopathic) and type II (secondary or endocrine-related) aids prognosis and management.