A Review of Rotator Cuff Classifications in Current Use

To better understand the natural history of rotator cuff disease and its treatment, it is crucial to find a reliable method of classifying or describing rotator cuff tears. We can then use this classification to identify appropriate treatments for each type of tear that lead to the best outcomes. There are many rotator cuff classification systems in use today, making it difficult to compare results and to agree on proper treatment. In addition, when using any system, surgeons may not always agree on how a particular tear is classified. After a comprehensive search in the literature available, Kuhn et al. were able to identify nine rotator cuff tear classifications systems that have been recommended to describe partial and full-thickness rotator cuff tears [1]. Each of these systems has been used in studying the outcomes of various treatments for rotator cuff tears. They developed a reliability study of 5 classification’s systems: DeOrio (1984), Ellman (1995), Harryman (1991), Patte (1990), and Wolfgang (1974) [2–6]. The results from