Glenoid Component Migration in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Case Report

Glenoid component migration is a serious complication in total shoulder arthroplasty, causing 32% of failures and 7% of revisions. Detecting polyethylene loosening is challenging due to its radiolucency. We report a case of a 72-year-old woman with shoulder pain three years post-arthroplasty. Initia...

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Main Authors: Thomas Saliba, Sanjiva Pather
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Ubiquity Press 2025-07-01
Series:Journal of the Belgian Society of Radiology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://account.jbsr.be/index.php/up-j-jbsr/article/view/3862
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author Thomas Saliba
Sanjiva Pather
author_facet Thomas Saliba
Sanjiva Pather
author_sort Thomas Saliba
collection DOAJ
description Glenoid component migration is a serious complication in total shoulder arthroplasty, causing 32% of failures and 7% of revisions. Detecting polyethylene loosening is challenging due to its radiolucency. We report a case of a 72-year-old woman with shoulder pain three years post-arthroplasty. Initial radiographs were unremarkable, but CT-arthrography revealed a displaced polyethylene spacer, rotated 90°, thus causing a mechanical block. Retrospective analysis of the X-rays showed the absence of the spacer in the expected position. Surgery restored functionality. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges of radiotransparent components with possible migration in unexplained post-arthroplasty shoulder pain. Teaching point: Verify glenoid component positioning in shoulder arthroplasties.
format Article
id doaj-art-d26b02fc15294b958bcdbdc294944a69
institution Kabale University
issn 2514-8281
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Ubiquity Press
record_format Article
series Journal of the Belgian Society of Radiology
spelling doaj-art-d26b02fc15294b958bcdbdc294944a692025-08-21T12:37:16ZengUbiquity PressJournal of the Belgian Society of Radiology2514-82812025-07-011091292910.5334/jbsr.38623858Glenoid Component Migration in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Case ReportThomas Saliba0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6989-9577Sanjiva Pather1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2574-591XHôpital de Braine L’Alleud, Rue Wayez 35, 1420 Braine-l’AlleudHôpital de Braine L’Alleud, Rue Wayez 35, 1420 Braine-l’AlleudGlenoid component migration is a serious complication in total shoulder arthroplasty, causing 32% of failures and 7% of revisions. Detecting polyethylene loosening is challenging due to its radiolucency. We report a case of a 72-year-old woman with shoulder pain three years post-arthroplasty. Initial radiographs were unremarkable, but CT-arthrography revealed a displaced polyethylene spacer, rotated 90°, thus causing a mechanical block. Retrospective analysis of the X-rays showed the absence of the spacer in the expected position. Surgery restored functionality. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges of radiotransparent components with possible migration in unexplained post-arthroplasty shoulder pain. Teaching point: Verify glenoid component positioning in shoulder arthroplasties.https://account.jbsr.be/index.php/up-j-jbsr/article/view/3862total shoulder arthroplastypainglenoid componentmigrationcomplication
spellingShingle Thomas Saliba
Sanjiva Pather
Glenoid Component Migration in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Case Report
Journal of the Belgian Society of Radiology
total shoulder arthroplasty
pain
glenoid component
migration
complication
title Glenoid Component Migration in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Case Report
title_full Glenoid Component Migration in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Case Report
title_fullStr Glenoid Component Migration in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Case Report
title_full_unstemmed Glenoid Component Migration in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Case Report
title_short Glenoid Component Migration in Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Case Report
title_sort glenoid component migration in total shoulder arthroplasty a case report
topic total shoulder arthroplasty
pain
glenoid component
migration
complication
url https://account.jbsr.be/index.php/up-j-jbsr/article/view/3862
work_keys_str_mv AT thomassaliba glenoidcomponentmigrationintotalshoulderarthroplastyacasereport
AT sanjivapather glenoidcomponentmigrationintotalshoulderarthroplastyacasereport