According to a recently published research in the Journal Surgical Technology International, ultrasound-guided calcium debridement is an effective, safe and satisfactory approach for treatment of calcium deposits in shoulder. The study involved the assessment of pain, patient’s satisfaction, function, activity levels and associated complications of patients who went through this procedure from 2005 to 2015.

The final cohort involved 38 patients with 53 years mean age and with 32 months of mean follow-up. The University of Southern California (UCLA) activity scale, the Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and the Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) scale were used to measure activity levels, pain and functional outcomes. A question was asked from patients regarding their satisfaction from the treatment outcomes. All medical records were assessed to note potential complications.

The outcomes of the analysis were remarkable. The UCLA, DASH and VAS scores improved from 2, 21 and 8 to 7, 10 and 1.6, respectively. The treatment satisfaction was perceived among 97% of patients. No complications were reported during analysis. The treatment approach effectively reduces the pain, but further investigation is required to estimate the influence of calcium deposit size on treatment outcomes.