. 2018 Jun;13(3):335–378.

Table 3.

Patient Demographics

First author (year)	Study design (Level of evidence)⁹⁶	Treatment groups (n = *)	Participants			Diagnosis€	Diagnosis criterion	Traumatic or atraumatic (n = *)	Symptom Duration	Outcomes
First author (year)	Study design (Level of evidence)⁹⁶	Treatment groups (n = *)	n = *	Mean age	Gender*	Diagnosis€	Diagnosis criterion	Traumatic or atraumatic (n = *)	Symptom Duration	Outcomes
Itoi (1992)¹⁰⁹	Case series (IV)	G0: Non-surgical (all pts) (62) G1: satisfied (15) G2: unsatisfied (8)	Subject: 54 shoulder: 62	63 yr	M:F 32:22 (shoulder: M:F 36:26)	Full-thickness RC tear	Positive arthrogram	NR	NR	-Pain -Function -ROM -Strength
Bokor (1993)¹⁰⁵	Case series (IV)	G1: Non-surgical (53)	Subject: 53	62.2 yr	M:F 40:13	Full-thickness RC tear	Positive arthrogram	Trauma: (40) Atraumatic: (13)	< 3 mo: 28 (53 %) 3-6 mo: 9 (17%) > 6 mo: 16 (30%)	-ASES -UCLA score
Hawkins (1995)¹⁰⁸	Case series (IV)	G1: Non-surgical (19) G2: Not satisfied w/ non- surgical (14) (n=12 received surgery)	Subject: 33	60 yr	M:F 27:6	Full-thickness RC tear	Positive arthrogram	Trauma: (12) Atraumatic: (48)	13.7 mo (82%) 22.5 yr (18%)	-Strength -ROM -Constant-murley
Wirth (1997)¹¹⁴	Case series (IV)	G1: Exercise therapy (60)	Subject: 60	64 yr	M:F 38:22	Full-thickness RC tear	“Radiographically documented full thickness tears”	NR	19 mo	-ASES
Palmer (1998)¹⁰¹	Case report (V)	Aquatic Therapy (1)	Subject: 1	78 yr	F: 1	Full-thickness RC tear supra: 1	MRI	Traumatic: (1)	2 wk	-Motion -Strength -Function: Overhead crawl (40 ft. x 2)
Yamada (2000)¹¹⁵	Case series (V)	G1: Non-surgical (14) G2: Surgery (26)	Subject: 40	70 yr	M:F G1: 9:5 G2: 23:3	Full-thickness RC tear supra, infra: NR	Positive arthrogram	NR	Mean: 44 mo (12 mo – 11 yr)	- JOAS
Goldberg (2001)¹⁰⁷	Case series (V)	G1: Non-surgical (46)	Subject: 46	65 yr	M:F 22:24	Full-thickness RC tear NR: 16 supra: 26 supra, infra: 2 supra, infra, subscap: 2	US, arthrogram, or MRI	NR	“None of the cuff tears were acute”	-Simple shoulder test -SF-36
Shibata (2001)¹²⁶	RCT (II)	G1: Sodium hyaluronate Injection (38) G2: Sodium hyaluronate & Dexamethasone (40)	Subject: 78	G1: 59.5 yr G2: 60.4 yr	M:F 55:23	Full thickness RC tear	MRI or Arthrogram	Traumatic: 42 Atraumatic: 36	G1: 5.8 mo G2: 4.7 mo	-UCLA score -Unsatisfied (Surgery)
Vad (2002)¹²⁰	Cohort study (Retrospective) (III)	G1a: PT + meds (28) G1b: PT + meds + CS (12) G2: Failed G1a/b arthroscopy (32) G3: Primary surgery RCT repair (36)	Subject: 108	G1: 63.2 yr G2: 62.9 yr G3: 59.4 yr	M:F 50:58	Full-thickness RC tear	MRI	Atraumatic	“Chronic”	-Shoulder rating questionnaire -ROM -Strength
Piccoli (2004)¹⁰²	Case report (V)	Multimodal (1)	Subject: 1	76 yr	F: 1	Full-thickness RC tear supra: 1	MRI	Traumatic	1 wk	-SPADI -SF-12 -ROM -Strength
Ainsworth (2006)¹⁰⁴	Case series (IV)	G1: Non-surgical (10) (Torbay rehabilitation program)	Subject: 10	75.6 yr	M:F 4:6	Massive RC tear †	US	NR	NR	-OSDQ -SF 36
Levy (2007)¹¹⁶	Case series (IV)	G1: Non-surgical (17)	Subject: 17	80 yr	M:F 6:11	Massive RC tear † supra, infra, subscap: 17	MRI (n=11) US (n=6)	Atraumatic	NR	-Constant-murley
Lunn (2007)¹¹⁹	Cohort study (Retrospective) (III)	G1: Nonoperative (14) G2: Open repair (5)	Subject: 19	47.7 yr	M:F 4:15	Full-thickness infra: 14	MRI	Traumatic: 2 Atraumatic: 17	51.6 mo	-Strength -Constant-murley -MRI findings
Ainsworth (2009)¹²⁷	RCT (II)	G1: PT + Exercise (30) G2: Control (Placebo) (no exercise) (30)	Subject: 54	78.2 yr	M:F 29:31	Massive full thickness ( > 5 cm)	“Radiological diagnosed”	NR	< 12 mo: n = 26 >12 mo: n = 34	-OSS -SF-36 -MYMOP ROM
Baydar (2008)¹¹⁸	Case series (IV)	G1: Non-surgical (20)	Subject: 20	60.9 yr	M:F 7:13	Full-thickness RC tear (supraspinatus) small: 9 medium: 7 large: 3	MRI	NR	NR	-ASES -Constant-murley -SF 36 -Isokinetic strength -Patient satisfaction
Moosmayer (2010/2014)^47,48	RCT (II)	G1: Surgical (52) G2: PT (51) G2→G1 (9; 18%)	Subject: 103	G1: 59 yr G2: 61 yr	M:F G1: 37:15 G2: 36:15	Full-thickness RC tear G1: supra: 37 supra, infra: 14 supra, subscap: 1 G2: supra: 40 supra, infra: 10 supra, subscap: 1	MRI US	Traumatic: G1: (24) G2: (16) Atraumatic: G1: (22) G2: (22) Inadequate trauma: G1: (6) G2: 13)	G1: 12.3 mo G2: 9.8 mo	-Constant-murley -ASES -SF 36 -Pain VAS -ROM -Strength -Patient satisfaction
Tanaka (2010)¹¹³	Case series (IV)	G1: Non-surgical (Subject: 62 shoulders: 65) G2 Failed G1→surgery (Subjects: 56 shoulders: 58)	Subject: 118 shoulder: 128	69 yr	M:F 67:61	Full-thickness RC tear small: 41 medium: 64 large: 18	MRI	Traumatic: G1: (14, 21.5%) G2: (14, 24.1%) Atraumatic: G1: (51, 78.5%) G2: (44, 75.9%)	NR	-Constant-murley -Night pain -ROM (FLX, ER) -Tear size -Surgical VZV just and weakness beginning
Gialanella (2011)¹²⁸	RCT (II)	G1: PT & CS (x1) (20) G2: PT & CS (x2) (20) G3: PT (20)	Subject: 60	G1: 78.7 yr G2: 77.3 yr G3: 79.4 yr	M:F G1: 2:18 G2: 1:19 G3: 2:18	Full-thickness RC tear small: 31 medium: 18 large: 11	MRI US	NR	G1: 6.6 mo G2: 4.4 mo G3: 5.2 mo	-Pain VAS -Shoulder functional status -Constant-murley
Merolla (2011)¹	Case series (IV)	G0: Conservative therapy (60) G1: ‘Successful’ (33) G2: G0→ surgery (27)	Subject: 60 Shoulder: 60	G0: 52 yr G1: 68 yr G2: 54 yr	M:F 24:36	RC tear G1: “complete tear” (33), (+) tear of LHB G2: RC tear (27)	MRI	NR	NR	-Constant-murley -Pain VAS -ROM
Kijma (2012)¹¹⁰	Case series (IV)	G1: Nonsurgical (43)	Subject: 43	62 yr	M:F 30:13	“Rotator cuff tear”	MRI or MRA	NR	NR	-JOAS
Krischak (2013)¹²⁴	RCT (II)	G1: Standard OT (22) G2: Home exercises (16)	Subject: 38	55.3 yr	M:F G1: 8:8 G2: 16:6	Full-thickness RC tear	MRI & physical exam	Atraumatic: (100%)	≥3 mo	-Pain -Conastant- murley -EQ-5D -Strength -ROM
Kuhn (2013)⁴⁰	Cohort study (III)	G0: PT program‡ (422, 100%) G1: Cured (237, 62.2%) (no formal f/u scheduled) G2: Improved (continue PT) G3: No better (82, 29%) (offered surgery)	Subject: 422	62.6 yr	M:F 206:194	Full-thickness RC tear supra: 281 (70%) supra & infra: 83 (21%) supra, infra, teres: 3 (<1%) subscap: 2 (<1%) supra & subscap: 20 (5%) supra, infra, subscap: 7 (2%) unknown: 4 (1%)	MRI	Atraumatic: (100%)	NR	-SF 12 -ASES -Shoulder activity score -SANE score
Benazzo (2014)⁹⁹	Case report (V)	Nonoperative: (1)	Subject: 1	23 yr	F: 1	“Complete Lesion” supra: 1	MRI	Traumatic	1 day	-SST -Constant-murley -ROM -Strength
Boorman (2014)¹²³	Cohort study (III)	G0: 3 mo supervised, non-operative§ G1: “Successful”(no surgery indicated) (70; 75%) G2: “failed” (underwent surgery) (23; 25%)	Subject: 93	60 yr	M:F 54: 39	“Full-thickness RC tear” (excluded full-thickness subscap & teres)	MRI or US	Traumatic: (46, 49%) Atraumatic: (47, 51%)	≥3 mo	-RC-QOL -ROM -Strength
Güzelant (2014)¹¹⁷	Case series (Retrospective) (IV)	G1: “Conservative therapy” (33)	Subject: 33	71 yr	M:F 19:14	“Massive retracted, irrepairable rotator cuff tears” (≥ 2 tendons)	MRI	NR	5.5 yr (66 mo)	-Pain VAS -ROM -Strength -ASES -UCLA score
Kukkonen (2014/2015)^52,125	RCT (II)	G1: PT (55) G2: Acromioplasty & PT (57) G3: RC repair, acromioplasty & PT (55)	Subject: 171 Shoulder: 167	G1: 65 yr G2: 65 yr G3: 65 yr	M:F G1: 24:31 G2: 29:28 G3: 29:26	“Symptomatic supraspinatus tendon tear comprising <75% of tendon insertion”	MRI	Atraumatic	G1: 26 mo G2: 28 mo G3: 28 mo	-Constant-murley -Radiologic outcome -Cost -Patient satisfaction
Collin (2015)¹⁰⁶	Case series (IV)	G1: “Rehabilitation program” (45) (nonoperative)	Subject: 45	67 yr	M:F 17:28	Full thickness RC tear “of at least 2 tendons” Goutailler Stage: 3 - 4 Pseudoparalysis (<90 ° anterior elevation)	NR	NR	NR	-Constant-murley
Lambers Heerspink (2015)⁴⁹	RCT (II)	G1: “Conservative Management” (31) G2: RC repair (25)	Subject: 56	G1: 60.5 G2: 60.8	M:F G1: 20:11 G2: 15:10	Full-thickness RC tear -Supra: G1: 31; G2: 25 -Infra: G1: 1; G2: 0 -Subscap: G1: 4; G2: 1	MRI	Atraumatic	G1: 12.0 mo G2: 12.5 mo	-Constant-murley -VAS Pain -Dutch simple shoulder test -Radiologic outcome
Baumer (2016)¹²¹	Cohort Study (III)	G1: PT (25) G2: Healthy controls (25)	Subject: 25 Shoulder: 50	G1: 60.2 G2: 59.0	M:F 7:18	Full-thickness RC tear G1: “small” tears mean: 1.4 cm range: 0.8-2.6 cm G2: Tendinosis: 15 partial thickness: 4 full thickness: 3 mean size: 1 cm	MRI or US	NR	NR	-Shoulder motion (radiography imaging system) -Strength -Pain VAS -WORC score
Christensen (2016)¹²²	Case series (IV)	G1: Non-operative(30) G2: Control (30)**	Subject: 30 Shoulder: 60	70.4	M:F 20:10	“Irreparable RC tears” -Complete supra tear: 30 -Infra tear: 30 complete: 27 partial: 3 -Subscap tear: 6	US and MR or Arthroscopy	Traumatic & atraumatic	38.6 mo	-OSS -VAS Pain -EQ-5D -ROM -Strength
Miller (2016)¹¹¹	Case series (IV)	G1: “Exercise therapy” (5)	Subject: 5	60.2	M:F 2:3	“Symptomatic small, degenerative full-thickness RC tear” Supraspinatus (only) Goutallier grade ≤ 2	MRI	Degenerative	≥3 mo	-Joint kinematics -ASES -WORC -DASH
Mischke (2016)¹⁰⁰	Case report (V)	“Conservative” therapy (1)	Subject: 1	57	F: 1	“Massive your parable rotator cuff tear” -Supraspinatus	MRI	Insideous onset	6 mo	-Pain -Quick DASH -GROC -ROM
Upadhyaya (2016)¹⁰³	Case report (V)	“Non-operative treatment” (1)	Subject: 1	49	M: 1	“Full thickness” -Supraspinatus	MRI	Traumatic	“acute”	-MRI findings -Strength
Moosmayer (2017)¹¹²	Case series (IV)	G1: Non-operative treatment (49)	Subject: 49	61	M:F 30:19	“Full-thickness RC” - < 3 cm -Supra: 38 -Supras & infra: 11	MRI & US	Traumatic: 31 Atraumatic: 18	NR	-Tear size/progression -Muscle atrophy -Fatty degeneration -Constant score. -ASES -SF-36 -Pain VAS

ASES, American shoulder and elbow surgeon's evaluation form; Constant-murley, constant murley shoulder outcome score; CS, cortical steroid injection; Con. Tx, conservative treatment; DASH, disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand outcome measure; ER, External rotation; EQ-5d, EuroQol questionnaire; Ft, feet; FLX, Flexion; G, group; GROC, global rating of change; HK Test, Hawkins Kennedy test; Infra, infraspinatus; JOAS, Japanese orthopedic association score; mo, month(s); LHB, long head of biceps tendon; MYMOP, measure yourself medical outcome profile; NR, not reported; OT, occupational therapy; OSS, Oxford shoulder score; Patte Classification, tears retracted past glenoid margin; PT, physical therapy; ROM, range of motion; RC, rotator cuff; RC-QOL; rotator cuff quality of life index instrument; RCT, randomized controlled trial; SF-12, short form–12 questionnaires; SF-36, short form–36 questionnaires; SPADI, shoulder pain and disability index; SST, shoulder short test score; Subscap, subscapularis; Supra, supraspinatus; Teres, teres minor; UCLA Score, University of California Los Angeles shoulder rating scale; VAS, visual analog score; WORC, Western Ontario rotator cuff index; Yr, year(s); *, numerical values given as number of subjects (unless otherwise specified); †, Grade 3 tearing; ‡, all subjects began a physical therapy program and were reevaluated at 6 and 12 weeks, at those times patient were assigned to G1, G2, or G3 based on findings. §, all subjects underwent a 3 mo supervised program of nonoperative treatment & with an evaluated by orthopedic surgeon and assigned to G1 or G2; **, subjects in G1 served as their own controls which composed G2.