GLENOID BONE ARCHITECTURE

This article describes regional variations in trabecular bone architec ture in terms of density and orientation within six glenoid specimens. The mean donor age was 56 years and ranged from 31 to 72 years. An au tomated imaging technique based on 3-dimensional serial sectioning was used for the direct examination of the glenoid cancellous bone struct ures. Subchondral plate thickness was on average 1.9 mm and ranged Fro m 1.2 mm to 2.9 mm. The volume fraction of trabecular bone varied from 11% to 45% with peak values at the posterior glenoid vault. On graphi c 3-dimensional reconstructions, the glenoid appeared as platelike tra beculae, radially oriented perpendicular to the subchondral plate and interconnected by thin rods. These views also displayed regional varia tions throughout the glenoid, reflecting differences in the macroscopi c appearance. Quantitative structural analysis revealed different degr ees of anisotropy at the glenoid cancellous region, predominantly tran sverse isotropy Resemblance to direct weight-bearing cancellous bone s uch as the proximal tibia was evident.