Treatment of Calcific Tendinitis by Ultrasound-guided Needle Lavage

A 18-gauge needle connected to a 5 ml syringe with 4 ml of saline solution will be used to puncture the calcification with freehand technique and under constant sonographic monitoring. With the tip of the needle placed in the center of the deposit, the calcification will be flushed. If backflow of calcific material can be identified in the syringe, lavage of the deposit will be performed by successive propulsion and aspiration with the syringe plunger. In cases where no material can be extracted, repeated perforation of the deposit will be performed to possibly initiate or accelerate spontaneous resorption.