Introduction: There is a lack of organization in existing studies on the outcome and complications of total shoulder arthroplasty. As a result, it is difficult to gain substantial evidence regarding the rate and risk factors for the occurrence of glenoid loosening which remains the most common cause of prosthetic failure. To improve the quality of future studies, an agreement should exist on definitions of glenoid loosening and on the potential risk factors.
Areas covered: Reviewing the literature, loosening can be defined as the appearance of radiolucent lines, radiological loosening, clinical loosening and revision as the end stage. Three different categories of influencing parameters can be distinguished: implant related, patient related and surgeon related. Expert commentary: The aim of this review is to organize the available knowledge on glenoid failure, as well as to describe the gaps so that it will constructively contribute to the debate on how to prevent glenoid failure in the anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty.
Keywords: Glenoid component; glenoid component failure; glenoid erosion; glenoid loosening; glenoid plane; inclination; radiolucent lines glenoid; retroversion; surgical experience; total shoulder arthroplasty.