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Ultrasound-Guided Barbotage: A Needle Technique for Shoulder Pain Relief
Published: May 26, 2024
Ultrasound-guided barbotage is a procedure that can help relieve shoulder pain from calcific tendinopathy by removing calcium deposits.
What is Barbotage?
Barbotage is a minimally invasive procedure that uses ultrasound to guide a needle into the shoulder to break and extract calcium deposits. It is often combined with a glucocorticoid injection to reduce inflammation and pain.
How Effective is Barbotage?
While its effectiveness varies, many patients report good results, especially when combined with other treatments. Studies show that up to 75% of patients experience improvement in symptoms.
Potential Risks and Considerations
Barbotage is generally safe but may not completely remove all calcium deposits. It is an outpatient procedure and usually well-tolerated, but some patients may experience discomfort or incomplete relief.
Frequently Asked Questions
It's used to remove calcium deposits causing shoulder pain.
A needle is guided by ultrasound to break and remove deposits.
Many patients report improvement, especially with combined treatments.
It's generally safe but may not fully remove all deposits.
The Bottom Line
Barbotage offers a promising option for those seeking relief from persistent shoulder pain.
References
- Aina R, Cardinal E, Bureau NJ, et al. Calcific shoulder tendinitis: treatment with modified US-guided fine-needle technique. Radiology 2001; 221:455.
- Moosmayer S, Ekeberg OM, Hallgren HB, et al. Ultrasound guided lavage with corticosteroid injection versus sham lavage with and without corticosteroid injection for calcific tendinopathy of shoulder: randomised double blinded multi-arm study. BMJ 2023; 383:e076447.
This article has been reviewed for accuracy by one of the licensed medical doctors working for Doctronic. Always discuss health information with your healthcare provider.
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