The research question was: can Arthroscopic or open biopsies were obtained, with informed consent and institution-approved review protocol, from patients undergoing total shoulder replacement or orthopaedic interventions for end-stage rotator cuff deficiency or arthropathy. Chondrocytes were isolated from eight biopsies and cells cultured over 4-weeks. In the first week post-digestion, validation studies showed cell counts varying from 30 000 to 400 000 (mean 126 666) and viability ranging from 30% to 100% (mean 75.2%). No primary culture failures were observed. One of the eight had an unexplained lower cell count and viability. Viability exceeded 80% in six of the eight cultures (75%). Alcian Blue stains and flow cytometry (Facscan) confirmed stable cultures with matrix formation. Aggrecan studies are in progress. The fact that