Ultrasound-Guided Glucocorticoid Injection as a Treatment for Rotator Cuff Calcific Tendinopathy: A Case Report

Rotator cuff calcific tendinopathy (RCCT) is a common disorder of the rotator cuff causing shoulder pain and dysfunction. RCCT is characterized by calcium deposition on and around the tendons of the rotator cuff muscles. Treatment is typically conservative, consisting of anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and physical therapy, although certain patients require more invasive treatment. If first-line treatments do not resolve the pain, second-line treatments such as glucocorticoid injections, extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT), barbotage, and surgery may be considered; however, there is no gold standard treatment for these refractory cases. In this case study, a 36-year-old female patient with confirmed RCCT achieved symptom remission with ultrasound-guided methylprednisolone injection followed by adjunctive physical therapy. Ultrasonography enabled precise, targeted delivery of steroids to the calcified lesions, with near 100% resolution of deposits on repeat radiography. With additional physical therapy, the patient was completely pain-free with a full range of motion and the ability to perform daily activities. This case report demonstrates that ultrasound-guided glucocorticoid injection can be an efficacious treatment option for refractory cases of RCCT.