Control of deltoid bursitis with the Knott technic of blood irradiation therapy

1. 1. Twenty-two consecutive unselected cases of deltoid bursitis are reported in which the Knott technic of blood irradiation has been used. 2. 2. Eighteen were cases of acute deltoid bursitis, and four were cases of chronic deltoid bursitis. 3. 3. In sixteen cases of acute deltoid bursitis and four cases of chronic deltoid bursitis, calcareous tendinitis was present. 4. 4. In ten cases of acute deltoid bursitis with calcareous tendinitis, the calcium deposits disappeared after treatment. 5. 5. Following use of blood irradiation therapy rapid relief of pain, followed by disappearance of limitation of motion and insomnia, occurred in seventeen of the eighteen cases of acute deltoid bursitis and in three of the four cases of chronic deltoid bursitis. Twenty of the twenty-two patients were improved or 90.9 per cent, a close approximation of the 88 per cent improvement reported by Neff and Anderson. 1 1 Neff, F. E. and Anderson, C. M. Use of ultraviolet blood irradiation in the treatment of bursitis and tendinitis calcarea. Am. J. Surg., 81: 622–628, 1951.