Forty-five patients (mean age, 42.2聽years) underwent biologic resurfacing of the glenoid, and 41聽were available for follow-up at a mean of 2.8聽years. Lateral meniscal allograft resurfacing was used in 31 patients and human acellular dermal tissue matrix interposition in聽10.
Postoperative range of motion and clinical outcomes were assessed at the final follow-up.
The overall clinical failure rate was 51.2%. The lateral meniscal allograft cohort had a failure rate of 45.2%, with a mean time to failure of 3.4聽years. Human acellular dermal tissue matrix interposition had a failure rate of 70.0%, with a mean time to failure of 2.2聽years.
Overall, significant improvements were seen compared with baseline with respect to the visual analog pain score (3.0 vs 6.3), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons score (62.0 vs 36.8), and Simple Shoulder Test score (7.0 vs 4.0). Significant improvements were seen for forward elevation (106掳 to 138掳) and external rotation (31掳 to 51掳).
Despite significant improvements compared with baseline values, biologic resurfacing of the glenoid resulted in a high rate of clinical failure at intermediate follow-up. Our results suggest that biologic resurfacing of the glenoid may have a minimal and as yet undefined role in the management of glenohumeral arthritis in the young active patient over more traditional methods of hemiarthroplasty or total shoulder arthroplasty.