Histologic Evaluation of a Biopsy Specimen Obtained 3 Months After Rotator Cuff Augmentation With GraftJacket Matrix

Understanding the cellular response to a biologic graft used in rotator cuff applications is important because foreign-body reactions and inflammation complications have historically been seen with xenograft-derived grafts. The purpose of this study was to histologically evaluate a biopsy specimen taken from a rotator cuff of a 62-year-old man 3 months after augmentation with an acellular human dermal graft, GraftJacket Matrix–MaxForce Extreme (Wright Medical Technology, Arlington, TN). The graft material was intact and filled with numerous elastic fibers and blood vessels. Extensive host cellular infiltration was evident along the margins of the graft, whereas the more central regions were more sparsely populated. Calcification and infection were not evident. There was little to no inflammatory response. The orientation of the collagen fibers indicated early organization of new tissue. The incorporation of the GraftJacket Matrix-MaxForce Extreme evidenced by cellular infiltration, alignment of collagen fibers, and blood vessel ingrowth shows that this graft exhibits key biologic factors of the remodeling process when used as an augmentation device in rotator cuff repair.