Osteoarthritis of the glenoid results in regional bone density variations and bone loss that may compromise early component fixation and support. The two common morphologies, symmetric and asymmetric erosion, were characterized by bone density and morphology, and assessed on the basis of bone removal and bone quality in the context of augmented glenoid components. The bone strain field was also compared when different augmented glenoid components underwent simulated joint loading using finite element analysis.

Asymmetrically eroded glenoids were found to have denser bone (p<0.001) and fewer voids (p<0.05) in the posteroinferior quadrant, while symmetrically eroded glenoids were found to have a uniform density distribution. Asymmetric glenoid erosion was found to be oriented 28 ± 11° from the superoinferior axis toward the posterior region, which resulted in increased bone removal when placing various augmented glenoid component designs. No correlation was found between the bone strain field and bone density under joint loading of augmented glenoid components using finite element analysis.