Lavage Of Trochanteric Calcifications
Lavage Of Trochanteric Calcifications
Greater trochanteric pain syndrome is a common cause of patient’s complaints with an estimated incidence of 2 per 1000 persons.
It can be due to calcium deposits in the tendons of the gluteus medius and the gluteus minimus muscles which attach to the greater trochanter. Calcifications can irritate surrounding structures like bursae and be a cause of inflammation called calcyfic bursitis.The pain may increase during sports activities. Very useful in the diagnosis of the cause of the greater trochanteric pain syndrome is an ultrasound examination.
Symptoms:
- pain on the lateral side of the knee during running,
- pain on the lateral side of the knee after running,
- trochanteric pain.
Conservative Treatment:
- rehabilitation,
- anti-inflammatory drugs.
Interventions:
The precutaneus aspiration of intertendinous calcifications.
Indications:
Symptomatic calcyfic tendonitis resistant to conservative treatment.
What does the procedure entail?
The technique is a kind of lavage of the calcification using a 1% lidocaine solution. The procedure can be performed only under ultrasound guidance. Once the needle reaches the calcification short impulses are applied to the syringe plunger. Releasing the plunger after each impulse the lidocaine solution flows back to the syringe, dragging the calcium with it, When the procedure is effective the solution inside the syringe is cloudy,
Complications:
- the pain during introduction the needle inside the tendon,
- hip discomfort during the first days after the procedure.
Dr. Marcin Goczewski performs lavage of calcification only under ultrasound guidance in order to increase the chance of successful therapy and minimize the risk of complications.
