Effect of joint conformity on glenoid component fixation in total shoulder arthroplasty

Results of shoulder replacements are inferior and must be improved. Two of the major problems of total shoulder replacements are loosening of cemented glenoid components and wear of polyethylene inlays of uncemented, metal-backed glenoid components. The aim of this study is to investigate the influence of joint conformity on glenoid-component fixation. Keeled glenoid components, with radii of curvature of 24, 25, or 29 mm, were cemented in bone substitutes, placed in a force-controlled test set-up, articulating against a 24 mm humeral head. They were loaded by a constant joint compression force (725 (plus-minus) 10 N) and a superior subluxation force (shear force), cyclically varying between 0 and 350 (plus-minus) 1 N. After 200 000 load cycles, the upper and lower glenoid component rim-displacements were measured by custom-made displacement sensors. Additionally, the shearout strength has been measured to investigate the residual strength. The glenoid component structures with radii of curvature of 24, 25, and 29 mm showed maximum superior rimdisplacements of 0.163 (SD = 0.01), 0.299 (SD = 0.0306), and 0.350 (SD = 0.0197) mm respectively, which is a significant diff erence (p < 0.05). The maximum shear-out strength of glenoid components with radii of curvature of 24, 25, and 29 mm was 2707 (SD = 452), 2648 (SD = 299), and 2631 (SD = 312) N respectively, which is not a significant diff erence (p < 0.05). However, the results indicate that a conform articulation shows smaller glenoid rim-displacements, which might be beneficial for long-term component fixation.