Hiroyuki Sugaya, MD

Dr. Hiroyuki Sugaya is a renowned Japanese orthopaedic surgeon and researcher with significant contributions to the understanding of rotator cuff tears, shoulder kinematics, and arthroscopic repair techniques. As a leading expert and an Advisor to the International SCR Association (ISCRA), Dr. Sugaya has played a key role in advancing the assessment and management of rotator cuff integrity and shoulder stiffness.

His landmark work includes the widely used "Sugaya Classification," a standardized MRI-based scoring system used globally to evaluate rotator cuff tendon healing and structural integrity following repair. His extensive research spans the evaluation of conservative management of frozen shoulder, glenohumeral kinematics, and the prevalence of concurrent neuropathies with rotator cuff tears. He continues to actively research and publish in leading sports medicine journals on both conservative and surgical management of shoulder and elbow conditions.

• Sugaya H. Post-operative rotator cuff integrity, based on Sugaya's classification, can reflect abduction muscle strength of the shoulder.
• Sugaya H, et al. Prolonged Early Postoperative Adduction Restriction Is Significantly Associated with Shoulder Stiffness One Year after Arthroscopic Rotator Cuff Repair. JSES International. 2026.
• Sugaya H, et al. Conservative Treatment for Frozen Shoulder Is Effective Regardless of the Severity of Symptoms. Arthroscopy Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation.
• Sugaya H, et al. Surgical Management of SLAP Lesions in Baseball Throwers: Posterosuperior and Posterior Labral Debridement With or Without Anterosuperior Repair Yields High Return to Play Rates. The American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2026.
• Sugaya H, et al. Real-World Clinical and Economic Impacts of Delayed Rotator Cuff Repair Surgery in Japan: Analysis of a Large Claims Database. JSES Reviews Reports and Techniques.
• Sugaya H, et al. Lateralized reverse shoulder arthroplasty shows similar scaption kinematics but greater scapular neck-insert distance during external rotation compared to Grammont prosthesis.