Technique for Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty for Primary Glenohumeral Osteoarthritis with a Biconcave Glenoid

Our technique to treat a biconcave glenoid (severe B2 subtype) with reverse total shoulder arthroplasty corrects the humeral head subluxation and associated posterior glenoid bone loss, both of which are difficult to address with a conventional anatomic arthroplasty procedure.

Obtain a preoperative computed tomography (CT) scan and make a detailed preoperative plan for reaming and bone-grafting.

Perform a standard deltopectoral approach.

Prepare the humerus in a way that allows you to retain the humeral head for bone-grafting, being careful not to make an overly conservative first cut that effectively splits the intended bone graft.

Proper glenoid exposure is an essential element of this operation and even more difficult for the B2 glenoid than in a standard total shoulder replacement.

Having adequately visualized the glenoid, ream the anterior aspect of the glenoid in a way that executes your preoperative plan; do not ream >1 cm.

Use the screws to compress the bone graft between the metaglene and the native glenoid.

Proceed with your standard closure.

We presented our results of this procedure in twenty-seven shoulders in twenty-seven patients with a mean duration of follow-up of fifty-four months (range, twenty-four to 139 months).IndicationsContraindicationsPitfalls & Challenges.