Table 3.

Definition of irreparable rotator cuff tears in prospective surgical therapeutic trials

Classification	Characteristics	Detail	Number of articles	Reference
Symptoms	Duration of symptoms	≥ 6 months	13	[38, 43, 44, 46–48, 51, 56, 60, 63, 69, 70, 72]
		≥ 3 months	2	[50, 54]
		Pseudoparalysis	1	[73]
Images	Tendon retraction	Retraction ≥ 5 cm	9	[36, 37, 43, 46, 50, 56, 70, 72, 76]
		Retraction ≥ 3 cm	5	[51, 60, 63, 68, 71]
		≥ Patte grade 3	6	[40, 45, 48, 53, 61, 67]
		≥ Patte grade 2	2	[39, 42]
	Fatty infiltration	≥ Goutallier grade 3 (or infiltration ≥ 50%)	11	[39, 40, 45, 51–54, 60, 61, 63, 67]
		≥ Goutallier grade 2 (or ≥ Fuchs grade 2)	5	[41, 42, 48, 58, 73]
		Goutallier grade 1–3	1	[70]
		Goutallier grade 4	2	[56, 66]
	Ruptured tendon number or width of the defect in sagittal plain	≥ 2 tendons	12	[36, 37, 41, 42, 46, 48, 50, 58, 67, 68, 70, 76]
		Anterior to posterior defect ≥ 5 cm	1	[39]
		Anterior to posterior defect ≥ 3 cm	3	[51, 60, 63]
		≥ Bayne and Bateman grade 3	1	[40]
	Muscle atrophy	≥ Thomazeau grade 3	2	[39, 53]
		Positive tangent sign	1	[54]
	Other – Defect area	Davidson group 3	1	[42]
	Other – AH interval	≤ 6 mm AHD	1	[52]
Intraoperative finding	Irreparable after mobilization	Act as final conform	18	[36, 37, 40, 43, 46, 47, 50, 52, 53, 55, 59–61, 68–70, 75, 76]
		Part of the criteria	5	[54, 58, 63, 67, 72]
	Poor tendon quality	Part of the criteria	1	[39]

AHD, acromial humeral distance