Arthroscopic Removal of a Polyethylene Glenoid Component in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty

We present a technique for arthroscopic glenoid removal in a case of glenoid loosening after total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). The presented technique is technically feasible and may be useful if 1-stage surgery with glenoid reimplantation is not indicated. To exclude low-grade infection, the presented technique allows for an intraoperative infection workup such as intraoperative cultures. However, glenoid loosening in TSA is a well-known problem and has been described before. The advantages of the presented technique include minimally invasive surgery, decreased pain, preservation of the subscapularis tendon, and assurance of exclusion of low-grade infection before reimplantation of a new glenoid implant. In this case a 73-year-old patient was treated with a TSA for severe osteoarthritis of the right shoulder in April 2014. Because of persistent anterior shoulder pain postoperatively, radiographic evaluation was performed and showed signs of glenoid loosening 6 months after surgery without any clinical signs of infection. To exclude low-grade infection, arthroscopy of the right shoulder was performed. Arthroscopy showed a totally loosened glenoid component leading to arthroscopic glenoid removal by use of a special forceps.