Surgical Release of a Calcified Conjoint Tendon Following Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Case Report

A 69-year-old female with a history of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty presented with persistent anterior shoulder pain and restricted range of motion. Imaging subsequently demonstrated calcific changes of the conjoint tendon. Targeted corticosteroid injections provided temporary symptom relief; however, recurrence after discontinuation due to steroid-induced hyperglycemia prompted surgical tendon release. Postoperatively, range of motion improvements were sustained, but anterior shoulder pain recurred and Quick-DASH scores worsened by the 6-month follow-up. Although calcific changes were identified within the conjoint tendon, the clinical course suggests that calcification may represent a contributing or secondary phenomenon rather than a definitive primary pain generator. Conjoint tendon release may improve mobility, although pain relief may be unpredictable.