Glenoid Radiolucent Lines in Anatomic Total Shoulder Arthroplasty are Unaffected by Thrombin Glenoid Preparation

Modern glenoid cementing techniques for anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty has improved the ability to achieve a stable cement mantle, but the efficacy of adjunctive agents in glenoid preparation is unclear. The purpose of this study is to compare the early radiolucency rates of glenoids prepared with and without thrombin.

We identified patients between January 2017 and February 2019 undergoing primary anatomic TSA using two glenoid types. Group A glenoids had a cemented central peg without peripheral peg cementation, and Group B glenoids had cemented peripheral pegs without central peg cementation. The first postoperative radiograph was assessed for radiolucent lines. All patients had the same glenoid preparation except some had the addition of thrombin as a preparation agent.

We identified 83 Group A glenoids with and 63 without thrombin glenoid preparation, and109 Group B glenoids with and 48 without thrombin preparation. All Group A glenoids had no radiolucent lines and 5 (3%) Group B glenoids had radiolucent lines. Use of thrombin showed no difference in early radiolucencies (p=1.00) in either Group.

The addition of thrombin as a preparation agent had no effect on early glenoid radiolucent lines in anatomic TSA, and its routine use should be reconsidered.