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Excellent side-to-side symmetry in glenoid size and shape

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Abstract

Objective

In quantifying glenoid bone loss and as a means to determine initial glenoid size, the abnormal glenoid is often compared with the contralateral normal glenoid. The assumption is that good symmetry exists between both glenoid surfaces with regard to size and shape. The purpose of this study is to critically analyze the structural symmetry of both glenoids in an objective and quantitative manner to ascertain the degree of symmetry present.

Materials and methods

The study cohort comprised 60 subjects (35 males and 25 females) with no shoulder pathology or injury. Each glenoid surface was extracted from the whole scapular model constructed from CT data using a 3D curvature-based incremental watershed algorithm. Glenoid morphometric analysis was carried out based on the 2D contour of the glenoid projected on the principal plane.

Results

There was no side-to-side difference in glenoid length (p = 0.53), width (p = 0.42), area (p = 0.36), or circumference (p = 0.73). All glenoid dimensions were larger in males than females (p < 0.05). Point-wise curvature analysis showed no significant shape difference between both glenoids (all p > 0.1). Regression analysis revealed a positive correlation (R 2 = 0.3–0.5) between increasing age and increasing glenoid size.

Conclusions

In normal subjects, both glenoids are highly symmetric in shape and size. This study provides objective and quantitative justification for using the normal counterlateral glenoid as a reference standard for initial glenoid shape in patients with unilateral glenoid bone loss.

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Acknowledgments

The work described in this paper was supported by a grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No.: CUHK 473012) and grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project No. 81101111, No. 61233012, No. 81201157, and No. 81271653).

Conflict of interest

All the authors have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China

    Lin Shi, James F. Griffith, Junbin Huang & Defeng Wang

  2. Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, China

    Lin Shi

Authors
  1. Lin Shi
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  2. James F. Griffith
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  3. Junbin Huang
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  4. Defeng Wang
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to James F. Griffith or Defeng Wang.

Additional information

This study was approved by The Chinese University of Hong Kong and hospital ethics committee.

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Shi, L., Griffith, J.F., Huang, J. et al. Excellent side-to-side symmetry in glenoid size and shape. Skeletal Radiol 42, 1711–1715 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-013-1728-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-013-1728-y

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