Measuring glenoid and humeral bone loss in shoulder dislocation

Glenoid bone loss (GBL) is common following shoulder dislocation, being apparent in about 40% of patients with a single dislocation and 85% of patients with recurrent dislocation (1). It results from impaction of the humeral head against the anterior glenoid rim at the time of dislocation. GBL occurs along the anterior aspect of the glenoid (2), though as the glenoid has an anteroinferior orientation, this bone loss may appear to be present antero-inferiorly rather than anteriorly (3).