The Movin scoring system and its validated modifications and the Bonar scoring system are used to classify the histopathological
findings of tendinopathy. We compared the reliability of these two different histopathological evaluation scores of tendon
tissue. Tendon samples were harvested from 88 individuals (49 men, 39 women; mean age, 58.2 years) who underwent arthroscopic
repair of a rotator cuff tear, and from five male patients who died of cardiovascular events (mean age, 69.6 years). A piece
of supraspinatus tendon that was not directly involved in the tear was harvested en bloc within the intact middle portion
of the tendon. Using hematoxylin and eosin staining and Alcian blue, slides were assessed using Bonar and Movin scores. The
intraclass correlation was 0.921 (confidence interval 95% 0.790–0.963). Movin’s and Bonar’s scores have a high correlation
and assess similar characteristics and variables of tendon abnormalities.
Each author certifies that he or she has no commercial associations (eg, consultancies, stock ownership, equity interest,
patent/licensing arrangements, etc) that might pose a conflict of interest in connection with the submitted article. One of
the authors (UGL) was partly supported by the 2006 British Association of Sports Medicine Aircast Prize.
Each author certifies that his or her institution has approved the human protocol for this investigation and that all investigations
were conducted in conformity with ethical principles of research, and that informed consent for participation in the study
was obtained.