Acute Calcific Tendinitis of the Hand: an Infrequently Recognized and Frequently Periarthritis

Paraarticular calcifications are frequently seen around the shoulders and greater trochanters of the hips. However, calcific deposits in other sites are infrequently recognized or described. Calcific pcriarthritis of the hand, an unusual site of involvement, is often overlooked and underdiagnosed. In 1938 Sandstrom (1) reported that of 329 sites of calcareous deposit, only 8 involved the hand (wrist plus fingers), an incidence of 2.4%. A case of acute calcific tendinitis of the hand is reported and the syndrome reviewed. Case report. A 57-year-old woman, previously in good health, was admitted for acute pain and swelling around the right first interphalangeal (IP) joint. Four days prior to admission, she noted soreness of her thumb. She had been gardening the day before and in retrospect, thought perhaps she had been bitten by an insect. Her thumb progressively became more swollen and tender, and she became unable to flex the joint. She denied having fever, chills, vaginal discharge, dysuria, rash, myalgias, or other present or past joint complaints. She had been sexually inactive for years. There was no history of gout or trauma. She was receiving no medication.