Normal glenoid rim anatomy and the reliability of shoulder instability measurements based on intrasite correlation

• Published in: Surgical and radiologic anatomy (English ed.) Vol. 31; no. 8; pp. 623 - 625
• Main Authors: Jeske, Hans-Christian, Oberthaler, Martina, Klingensmith, Michael, Dallapozza, Christian, Smekal, Vinzenz, Wambacher, Markus, Kralinger, Franz
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris Springer-Verlag 01.10.2009; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Anatomy; Anatomy & physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Bones; Female; General aspects; Humans; Imaging; Joint Instability - diagnosis; Male; Medical imaging; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Original Article; Orthopedics; Prospective Studies; Radiography; Radiology; Shoulder; Shoulder Injuries; Shoulder Joint - anatomy & histology; Shoulder Joint - diagnostic imaging; Surgery; Young Adult; Shoulder instability; Glenoid; Computer tomography and Bankart lesion; Correlation; Radiodiagnosis; Anatomy; Normal; Medicine; Treatment; Glenoid cavity; Surgery; Shoulder; Computer; Tomography; Instability; Lesion; Reliability; Computer aid; Quantitative analysis
• ISSN: 0930-1038; 1279-8517
• DOI: 10.1007/s00276-009-0492-0

Purpose To evaluate the glenoid shape and to evaluate if the contralateral glenoid can be used as size reference. Methods Two independent investigators prospectively analysed shoulder computer-tomographies of 90 patients. The glenoids were positioned in a true “en face” view and evaluated for size and shape. The intraindividual correlation of these parameters between left and right side were assessed. Results In the 90 computer tomographically evaluated shoulder pairs a significant intraindividual correlation of size and shape was seen ( P  < 0.001). The intraindividual difference in glenoid surface area averaged 1.8% of the total glenoid surface. The shape of the inferior hemisphere correlated 100%. We found all the inferior glenoids to be circular. Conclusion Our study clearly shows that the inferior glenoid in healthy individuals has the shape of a circle. The high side-to-side correlation of the glenoid surface area can be applied when measuring bony defects by evaluation of the contralateral side.