Sunday, April 20, 2025

Severe B2 glenoid in an active 51 year old man

 A 51 year old general contractor, competitive bow hunter and swimmer presented with persistent and limiting left shoulder pain and grinding that has been refractory to arthroscopic "debridement" and intraarticular steroid injections.  On examination he had limited motion with 80 degrees of glenohumeral flexion, 0 degrees of external rotation, and internal rotation to the gluteal area. His x-rays at presentation show osteoarthritis with inferior and posterior decentering and severe B2 pathoanatomy.



After discusscion of the alternatives of non-operative management, an anatomic total shoulder and reverse total shoulder, he elected to proceed with a ream and run arthroplasty to avoid the risks and limitations of a plastic glenoid component.
CT scanning and the use of planning software were avoided. The procedure was performed under general anesthesia without a nerve block. A subscapularis peel was performed, preserving the long head tendon of the biceps. A standard free-hand anatomic neck cut was made in 30 degrees of retroversion and at a 135 degree angle with the humeral shaft.
His humeral head showed the "Friar Tuck" pattern of central cartilage loss.



Conservative glenoid reaming was performed without attempt to modify glenoid version. Patient-specific instrumentation and augmented reality were not used. Intraoperative trialing indicated that a 54 20 anteriorly eccentric humeral head provided the optimal balance of mobility and stability.  Neither a plastic glenoid component or bone cement was used. The postoperative x-rays are shown below.



Five months after surgery he reported " Shoulder doing good saw great improvements this month. Strength is improving and have resumed construction work with some limitations. Haven’t started shooting a bow yet but soon I think.  Thanks for a great shoulder" and provided the video shown below of his active motion.






House finch in cherry blossoms



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Here are some videos that are of shoulder interest
Shoulder arthritis - what you need to know (see this link).
How to x-ray the shoulder (see this link).
The ream and run procedure (see this link).
The total shoulder arthroplasty (see this link).
The cuff tear arthropathy arthroplasty (see this link).
The reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (see this link).
The smooth and move procedure for irreparable rotator cuff tears (see this link)
Shoulder rehabilitation exercises (see this link).