The influence of implant articular thickness and glenohumeral conformity on stability of an all-metal glenoid component

Bicknell, Ryan T.; Liew, Allan S.L.; Danter, Matthew R.; Patterson, Stuart D.; King, Graham J.W.; Chess, David G.; Johnson, James A.

doi:10.1016/j.jse.2006.10.014

« Previous Next »Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery
Volume 16, Issue 5 , Pages 631-639, September 2007

The influence of implant articular thickness and glenohumeral conformity on stability of an all-metal glenoid component

Ryan T. Bicknell, MD, MSc, FRCSC
- Department of Surgery, University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
- Reprint requests: Ryan T. Bicknell, MD, MSc, FRCSC, Hand and Upper Limb Centre, St Joseph’s Health Centre, 268 Grosvenor St, London, Ontario, Canada, N6A 4L6.
Allan S.L. Liew, MD, FRCSC
- Department of Surgery, University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
Matthew R. Danter, MD
- Hand and Upper Limb Centre, St Joseph’s Health Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
Stuart D. Patterson, MBChB, FRCSC
- Central Florida Orthopaedic Surgery Associates, Lakeland, FL.
Graham J.W. King, MD, MSc, FRCSC
- Department of Surgery, University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
- Hand and Upper Limb Centre, St Joseph’s Health Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
David G. Chess, MD, FRCSC
- Department of Surgery, University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
- Hand and Upper Limb Centre, St Joseph’s Health Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
James A. Johnson, PhD
- Department of Surgery, University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada
- Hand and Upper Limb Centre, St Joseph’s Health Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Western Ontario, Ontario, Canada

published online 17 May 2007.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of implant thickness and glenohumeral conformity on fixation of an all-metal glenoid component. A stainless steel glenoid component was designed and implanted in 10 cadaveric scapulae. A testing apparatus capable of producing a loading vector at various angles, magnitudes, and directions was used. The independent variables included 6 directions and 3 angles of joint load, 3 implant thicknesses, and 4 glenohumeral conformities. Implant micromotion relative to bone was measured by use of 4 displacement transducers at the superior, inferior, anterior, and posterior sites. The components displayed a consistent response to loading of ipsilateral compression and contralateral distraction. Stability decreased as the load application angle increased (P < .05). A decrease in the implant thickness and glenohumeral conformity resulted in increased implant stability (P < .05). Decreasing implant thickness and glenohumeral conformity reduce the eccentric component of loading and may improve the durability of glenoid implants.