Metal-Backed Glenoid Prostheses

Abstract

Despite the theoretical advantages of uncemented glenoid prostheses, clinical experience with uncemented metal-backed glenoids (MBG) has been disappointing to date. MBG design features have varied widely and, unlike the systematic ‘generational’ refinement of cemented glenoid prostheses, MBG design has been haphazard and unsystematic. The advent of reverse prostheses has rekindled interest in MBGs that allow ‘exchange’ from ‘anatomic’ to ‘reverse’ without baseplate removal. Recent designs, based on earlier prostheses, have proven excellent medium-term results, and there are now some specific indications for the use of MBGs. Further refinements are expected.