Classification of Synder for Rotator Cuff Tears

Description

Snyder used a classification to describe tears of the rotator cuff. This can be used to stratify patients and to compare the effectiveness of different interventions. The author is from the Southern California Orthopedic Institute in Van Nuys, California.

Parameters:

(1) location

(2) severity of the tear

Surfaces Involved by the Tear	Designation
articular surface	A
bursal surface	B
both the articular and bursal surfaces (complete)	C

Parameter for the tear severity:

(1) covering of the synovium and bursa

(2) fraying of rotator cuff fibers

(3) size

Covering of the Synovium and Bursa	Fraying	Size of Injury	Designation
smooth	none	none	0
minimal superficial irritation	slight	< 1 cm	I
synovial, bursal, capsular or bursal injury	actual fraying or failure of some of the rotator cuff fibers	< 2 cm	II
more severe injury	fraying and fragmentation of tendon fibers, which may involve the whole surface of a cuff tendon	< 3 cm	III
very severe	fraying and fragmentation of tendon tissue with a flap tear, often involves more than 1 tendon	>= 3 cm	IV

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Description

Specialty

ICD-10