The aim of this study was to determine the position of the glenoid’s “Bare Spot” in a large number of cadaver specimens.

The “Bare Spot” area of the glenoid has been used to determine the presence and size of a bony lesion at arthroscopic assessment of a patient following gleno-humeral dislocation; it has been assumed that this spot is placed centrally on the face of the glenoid.

Fifty cadavers were obtained from the Anatomy Department and none had known bone or joint pathology. Both shoulders were dissected open. In two there was evidence of bone pathology and one had a rotator cuff tear on one side. The size of the glenoid and the “Bare Spot” was measured with a micrometer and the position of the “Bare Spot” was measured from its centre to the anterior and posterior glenoid rims and to the antero-inferior glenoid rim (were bony lesions most often occur).

The “Bare Spot” was present in 88 of 100 shoulders. Its diameter was 4.5mm with a range from 2.4mm to 9 mm and inter-quartile range from 3.35mm to 6.1mm. The “Bare Spot” is often present and is centrally placed in the antero-posterior plane, but the antero-inferior glenoid rim is further away. This is of vital importance in planning surgery as inappropriate soft tissue surgery may be performed if the “Bare Spot” is assumed to be centrally placed in the glenoid