Medium‐energy shock wave therapy in the treatment of rotator cuff calcifying tendinitis

To evaluate the results of the treatment with medium‐energy extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in rotator cuff calcifying tendinitis. Fifty‐four non‐consecutive patients, who were referred to our institute for rotator cuff calcifying tendinitis, were managed with a standardized protocol in four sessions of medium‐energy (0.11 mJ/mm 2 ) ESWT administered with an electromagnetic lithotriptor. Pain was evaluated at the end of each session, functional state of shoulder was assessed at 1 and 6 months after the end of procedure. All patients underwent radiographs and sonography imaging. No systemic or local complications. Thirty‐eight patients (70%) reported satisfactory functional results. Radiographs and sonographs showed a disappearance of calcium deposit in 29 patients (54%) and in 19 patients (35%) it appeared to be reduced more than a half. A correlation was found between residual calcium deposit and the clinical outcome, but some patients showed a reduced pain without modification of calcium deposit. These results were unmodified at 6 months follow‐up. Our protocol of medium‐energy ESWT provides good results overall about pain modulation.