A
cartilage plug, which is made from a biocompatible, artificial material, that is used to fill a void in natural
cartilage that has been resected due to
traumatic injury or
chronic disease is disclosed. Alternatively, the plug may be relied upon to anchor a flowable
polymer to
subchondral bone. The plug is prebricatable in any size, shape, and contour and may be utilized either singly or in a plurality to fill any size void for any application. The plug may be formed of a laminated structure to match the physiological requirements of the
repair site. Additionally, ridges may be formed about the periphery of each plug to facilitate its anchoring to surrounding
cartilage, bone and / or adjacent plugs. A procedure for resecting damaged or diseased cartilage and for implanting a replacement plug or plugs according to this invention, as well as a set of instruments for effecting the procedure, and a self-contained
system for orthopedic surgeons, which includes a variety of differently sized and shaped plugs, as well as a set of instruments for the procedure are also disclosed.< / PTEXT>