Glenoid hypoplasia and its relationship to instability

Glenoid hypoplasia, or dysplasia of the scapular neck, is usually a bilateral and symmetric finding. Associated findings include hypoplasia of the humeral head, elongation of the glenoid cavity, and alterations in the shape of the coracoid or clavicle. Glenoid hypoplasia has been reported sporadically in the radiologic literature, but the condition may be more frequent than previously thought. In this paper, we discuss the radiographic findings of glenoid hypoplasia and explore the possibility of an association between glenoid hypoplasia and shoulder instability.