The glenoid in total shoulder arthroplasty.

Management of glenohumeral arthrosis with a total shoulder prosthesis is becoming increasingly common. However, failure of the glenoid component remains one of the most common causes for failure. Our understanding of this problem has evolved greatly since the first implants were placed in the 1970's. However glenoid failure remains a challenging problem to address and manage. This article reviews the current knowledge regarding the glenoid in total shoulder arthroplasty touching on anatomy, component design, implant fixation, causes of implant failure, management of glenoid failure and alternatives to glenoid replacement.