Tendinosis calcarea (synonyms: calcification; calcifying tendinitis; calcifying tendopathy; periarthropathia calcificans; peritendinitis calcarea; tendon calcification; tendinosis calcarea; ICD-10 M65.29: tendinitis calcarea, unspecified location) describes calcified deposits in various tendons and tendon attachments in the human body.
Most frequently, these deposits occur in the rotator cuff of the shoulder joint. In this context, one speaks of a calcifying shoulder (synonyms: calcifying tendinitis of the shoulder; shoulder calcification; ICD-10 M75.3: tendinitis calcarea in the shoulder region).
In most cases, the supraspinatus tendon (attachment tendon of the supraspinatus muscle) is affected here, and in 75% of cases, but also the infraspinatus tendon (the infraspinatus muscle is an external rotator of the humerus). Other tendons frequently affected by calcification are the patellar tendon (knee) and the Achilles tendon (foot). The femur (greater trochanter) and elbow can also be affected. The disease is often accompanied by inflammatory processes. This is referred to as tendinitis calcarea.
In the following, we will focus on tendinitis calcarea in the shoulder region.
Gender ratio: Women are more frequently affected by tendinitis calcarea in the shoulder region (calcific shoulder) than men (3: 1).
Frequency peak: Tendinitis calcarea in the shoulder area (calcifying shoulder) occurs predominantly between the 30th and 50th year of life.In up to approx. 40% of patients there is a bilateral occurrence.
The prevalence of tendinitis calcarea in the shoulder region (calcified shoulder) is 2-3% (in Germany).
Course and prognosis: The symptoms depend on the size of the calcific lesion and the stage of the disease. Tendinosis calcarea can be accompanied by severe pain, but can also be asymptomatic. The symptoms worsen significantly if the calcific foci enter the nearby joint or a bursa (bursitis calcarea). The course of tendinitis calcarea varies widely and a prognosis is difficult to make. The main focus of non-surgical measures is analgesia (pain relief), if possible in conjunction with permanent removal of the calcareous deposit. If these measures are not sufficient, surgical therapy is often required. Tendinosis calcarea can heal spontaneously, i.e. the calcium deposit is naturally resorbed (complete breakdown of the calcium). However, spontaneous healing can occur over a period of up to several years.
