Mapping of the morphological and the material characteristics on the glenoid and estimation of predominant loading condition on the glenoid through the mapping

The aim of this study was to predict and map the regional distribution of the trabecular architecture and the material properties of the glenoid and to estimate the predominant loading condition on the glenoid through the mapping. The morphological and material characteristics of the glenoid were investigated by analyzing digitized trabecular bone images obtained from twelve cadaver scapula specimens. The morphological and material characteristics computed from the cadaver specimens show that the predominant loading on the glenoid generally occurs during shoulder movement, which produces forces directed toward the posterior aspect of the bare region. This study is innovative in its detailed mapping of the morphological and material characteristics of the glenoid and its pioneering approach used to estimate the loading pattern acting on the glenoid through the mapping.