Glenoid size, inclination, and version: An anatomic study

Three hundred forty-four human scapular bones (172 matched pairs) were meas ured for their glenoid height, width, inclination, and version. The sample consisted of 50 black men, 50 white men, 50 black women, and 22 white women , all of whom were aged 20 to 30 years at the time of death. The mean age o f the study group was 25.6 years. No difference in glenoid size was noted b etween black and white patients. The overall glenoid version for the entire study group was 1.23 degrees of retroversion. The difference in glenoid ve rsion between black and white patients was statistically significant. The a verage glenoid version for black and white patients measured 0.20 degrees a nd 2.65 degrees of retroversion, respectively (P = .000014). Specifically, the glenoid version for black and white men measured 0.11 degrees and 2.87 degrees of retroversion, respectively (P = .00034). The glenoid version for black and white women measured 0.30 degrees and 2.16 degrees of retroversi on, respectively (P = .034). No statistical difference in glenoid version w as found between men and women of the some race. No difference was found be tween measuring the glenoid version based on the transverse axis of the sca pula and measuring the glenoid version perpendicular to the glenohumeral jo int. No statistical difference was found in the glenoid inclination based o n race or sex. The relationships between glenoid size, inclination, and ver sion are important to understand when a surgeon prepares to resurface the g lenoid during total shoulder arthroplasty. The knowledge of these values, t heir variation, and racial differences should help reproduce a more anatomi cal result.