The deposition of calcium inside the rotator cuff tendon, called calcific tendinitis, can cause severe inflammation, resulting in severe pain and the inability to use the shoulder joint. When it presents as acute severe pain, your consultant will give you a steroid injection which can provide dramatic pain relief.

In cases of longstanding or chronic calcific tendinitis, your surgeon will offer you a minimally invasive procedure such as ultrasound-guided needle barbotage to break the deposits. Sometimes the symptoms are persistent despite needle barbotage,or  the deposit can be too hard to break with a needle, in which case your surgeon will advise a surgical procedure such as arthroscopic barbotage to remove the calcium deposit. Occasionally the calcific deposit can lead to tears in the rotator cuff tendon necessitating repair of the rotator cuff tendon.