Doctronic navigation menu Log In
Doctronic navigation menu

Contents
  • What is Barbotage?
  • How Effective is Barbotage?
  • Potential Risks and Considerations

Ultrasound-Guided Barbotage: A Needle Technique for Shoulder Pain Relief

Ultrasound-Guided Barbotage: A Needle Technique for Shoulder Pain Relief

What's This About?

Ultrasound-guided barbotage is a procedure that can help relieve shoulder pain from calcific tendinopathy by removing calcium deposits.
Contents
  • What is Barbotage?
  • How Effective is Barbotage?
  • Potential Risks and Considerations

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.
A minimally invasive procedure using ultrasound to guide a needle to break and extract calcium deposits in the shoulder, often combined with a glucocorticoid injection for pain relief.

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.

FAQs

What is barbotage used for?

It's used to remove calcium deposits causing shoulder pain.

How is barbotage performed?

A needle is guided by ultrasound to break and remove deposits.

Is barbotage effective?

Many patients report improvement, especially with combined treatments.

Are there risks involved?

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.
Discuss with Doctronic if barbotage could be the right procedure for you.
Additional References
  1. Aina R, Cardinal E, Bureau NJ, et al. Calcific shoulder tendinitis: treatment with modified US-guided fine-needle technique. Radiology 2001; 221:455.
  2. 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.