Arthroscopic treatment of chronically painful calcific tendinitis of the rectus femoris

Eur J Med Res. 2013 Nov 23;18(1):49. doi: 10.1186/2047-783X-18-49.

Abstract

Background: Relatively large calcific tendinitis with persistent symptoms after extended periods of conservative treatment is an indication for operative therapy. Arthroscopy, as a treatment for calcific tendinitis of the hip abductors and calcinosis circumscripta, has been described previously; however, to our knowledge, the clinical and radiological response to arthroscopic removal of calcific tendinitis of the rectus femoris tendon has not.

Methods: We present arthroscopic treatment of unusual calcific tendonitis of the origin of the rectus femoris and associated intra-articular lesions in 3 patients with chronic coxa pain.

Results: Our cases show that hip arthroscopy is an effective therapeutic modality for calcific tendinitis of the hip joint with satisfactory short-term outcomes.

Conclusions: Calcific tendinitis, although an uncommon clinical entity, should be a part of the differential diagnosis of acute or chronic hip pain.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Arthroscopy*
  • Calcinosis / complications
  • Calcinosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Calcinosis / surgery*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Pain / complications
  • Pain / diagnostic imaging*
  • Quadriceps Muscle / diagnostic imaging*
  • Quadriceps Muscle / pathology*
  • Quadriceps Muscle / surgery
  • Radiography
  • Tendinopathy / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tendinopathy / surgery*