BACKGROUND

Three-dimensional (3D) geometry of the normal glenohumeral bone anatomy and relations is poorly documented. Our aims were (1) to determine the 3D geometry of the normal glenohumeral joint (GHJ) with reference to the scapular body plane and (2) to identify spatial correlations between the orientation and direction of the humeral head and the glenoid.

METHODS

Computed tomographies (CTs) of the normal, noninjured GHJ were collected from patients who had undergone CTs in the setting of (1) polytrauma, (2) traumatic head injury, (3) chronic acromioclavicular joint dislocations, and (4) unilateral trauma with a contralateral normal shoulder. We performed 3D segmentation and measurements with a fully automatic software (Glenosys; Imascap). Measurements were made in reference to the scapular body plane and its transverse axis. Geometric measurements included version, inclination, direction, orientation, best-fit sphere radius (BFSR), humeral subluxation, critical shoulder angle, reverse shoulder angle, glenoid area, and glenohumeral distance. Statistical correlations were sought between glenoid and humeral 3D measurements (Pearson correlation).

RESULTS

A total of 122 normal GHJs (64 men, 58 women, age: 52 ± 17 years) were studied. The glenoid BFSR was always larger than the humerus BFSR (constant factor of 1.5, standard deviation = 0.2). The mean glenoid version and inclination were -6° ± 4° and 7° ± 5°, respectively. Men and women were found to have significantly different values for inclination (6° vs. 9°, P = .02), but not for version. Humeral subluxation was 59% ± 7%, with a linear correlation with glenoid retroversion (r = -0.70, P < .001) regardless of age. There was a significant and linear correlation between glenoid and humeral orientation and direction (r = 0.72 and r = 0.70, P < .001).

CONCLUSION

The 3D geometry of the glenoid and humeral head present distinct limits in normal shoulders that can be set as references in daily practice: version and inclination are -6° and 7°, respectively, and humeral posterior subluxation is 59%; interindividual variations, regardless of the size, are relative to the scapular plane. There exists a strong correlation between the position of the humeral head and the glenoid orientation and direction.