Calculating anterior glenoid bone loss using the Bernageau profile view

To determine if it is possible to measure glenoid bone loss by using the Bernageau view and to compare it to a 3D CT scan.

Fifty healthy subjects with a mean age of 34 ± 8 years old and 31 (62 %) male were submitted to the Bernageau view X-ray of both shoulders. Three blinded evaluators measured the distance between the posterior and anterior glenoid rim. Ten patients with multiple episodes of unilateral traumatic anterior shoulder dislocation with a mean age of 34 ± 9.1 years old and 90 % male were submitted to the same X-ray technique to determine the percentage of glenoid bone loss. They were also submitted to a bilateral 3D CT scan to be compared to the radiographs.

In the 50 asymptomatic subjects, the AP distance was 24.48 mm ± 3.32 mm in the left shoulder and 24.82 mm ± 3.16 mm in the right shoulder. Comparing the X-ray study and the 3D CT scan of the ten patients with multiple episodes, there was no significant statistical difference of the AP normal distance in both methods (p = 0.646), the AP erosion distance (p = 0.386), as well as the percentage of bone loss (p = 0.513). Moreover, the differences between the percentages of bone loss in the X-ray, compared with the 3D CT scan were, on average 2.28 % (range 0 to 6.05 %).

The Bernageau radiographic view is an accurate and reproducible technique for measuring the presence of glenoid erosion, with similar results when compared to the 3D CT scan.