Surgical treatment for posterior ossifications of the glenoid in baseball players

Seven baseball pitchers with symptomatic posterior glenoid osteophytes were operated on between 1982 and 1988 and were followed for an average of 5.2 years. Five and two patients had ossifications on the posteroinferior glenoid rim and on the infraglenoid tubercle, respectively. Ossifications on the posteroinferior glenoid rim were associated with posterior glenohumeral impingement, posterior glenoid labrum tears, and axillary neuropathy. Ossifications on the infraglenoid tubercle were associated with axillary nerve entrapment by the osteophytes and the thickened long head of the triceps muscle. Histologic study showed the coexistence of reactive new bone formation and bone necrosis. Preoperative and postoperative pain, sensory loss, muscle strength, and throwing distance were assessed. After surgical resection of the osteophytes and release of the axillary nerve entrapment, improvement in all parameters was observed in all patients.