Treatment of Calcific Achilles Tendinitis Using the Ultrasound-guided Single-needle Lavage Technique

• Main Author: Ligang Cui, MD, Chang Liu, MD, Zhiqiang Li, MD, Desheng Sun, MD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Editorial Office of Advanced Ultrasound in Diagnosis and Therapy 2018-08-01
• Series: Advanced Ultrasound in Diagnosis and Therapy
• Subjects: |achilles|calcific tendinitis|ultrasound|lavage|treatment
• Online Access: http://www.journaladvancedultrasound.com:81/fileup/2576-2516/PDF/1534732214602-75965959.pdf
• ISSN: 2576-2516

Objective: To report our initial experience using the ultrasound (US)-guided single-needle lavage technique for treating calcific Achilles tendinitis. Methods: Eighteen patients with chronic ankle pain refractory to medical treatment were treated percutaneously using a fine needle lavage technique under US guidance. Patients were evaluated using the visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score both before and 3 months after the procedure. Treatment-related complications were also recorded. Results: All 18 cases of US-guided single-needle lavage were performed successfully. The range of recovery time was 30-45 days, and there was a significant reduction in the VAS pain score. Conclusion: The US-guided single-needle lavage technique seems to be an effective and minimally invasive way to treat calcific Achilles tendinitis.