We reviewed the records of sixteen patients, fifteen to sixty-two years
old, who had glenoid hypoplasia with or without an associated deformity of
the humeral head. The patients were divided into three groups: those who
had bilateral glenoid hypoplasia without instability of the shoulder (Group
I), those who had bilateral glenoid hypoplasia with instability of the
shoulder (Group II), and those who had unilateral glenoid hypoplasia with
deformity of the humeral head (Group III). When first seen by us, thirteen
of the sixteen patients had pain in the shoulder, which they had noted
after an increase in their previous level of activity. All were managed
with a specific rehabilitation program for the shoulder. The patients were
followed for an average of five years, and most were able to return to
their previous level of activity with the resolution of the symptoms.