Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 8, 2026
Software-Assisted Quantitative Measurement of Osteoarthritic Subchondral Bone Thickness
Published on: March 18, 2022
Glenoid bare area: arthroscopic characterization and its implications on measurement of bone loss
Anthony M Barcia1, Douglas J Rowles, Craig R Bottoni
1Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.A..
Purpose:
The purpose of this study was to characterize arthroscopically the frequency and location of the glenoid bare area.
Methods:
Three fellowship-trained orthopaedic sports surgeons evaluated and characterized the bare area of the glenoid in 52 consecutive patients undergoing arthroscopic surgery of the shoulder without a diagnosis of instability. Among the patients with a visible bare area, the position was measured, and when eccentrically located, an apparent bone loss or gain was calculated.
Results:
The bare area of the glenoid was observed in only 48% of patients undergoing arthroscopic surgery, and when observed, it was at the center only 37% of the time. Of the glenoids with visible bare areas, 8% were located anteriorly enough to result in an apparent bone loss calculation of greater than 20%. An additional 25% of visible bare areas were posteriorly located, resulting in an apparent bone gain.
Conclusions:
The glenoid bare area is a variably visible and eccentric landmark on the glenoid and thus should not be used as the sole reference point to measure glenoid bone loss.
