Two piece cancellous construct for cartilage repair

In a multi-component construct for cartilage and bone repair, said construct having an outer periphery whose size and shape are selected such that said construct is positionable in a defect site to be repaired, said construct including a cap member shaped to form a stem having a longitudinal axis, which defines an axial direction, and a top section attached to one end of said stem and extending radially outward therefrom, said top section having first and second opposed surfaces, said first surface being sized and shaped so as to be adjacent an original cartilage layer at the defect site when said construct is positioned therein, and a base member sized and shaped so as to be adjacent a subchondral bone layer at the defect site when said construct is positioned therein, said base member including a proximal end proximate said second surface of said top section when said multi-component construct is assembled, a distal end remote from said cap member when said multi-component construct is assembled, and a blind bore extending in said axial direction from said proximal end toward said distal end, said blind bore being sized and shaped so as to receive said stem of said cap member, the improvement wherein:

• said cap member is formed from a first piece of cancellous bone which is demineralized to thereby provide said top section and said stem of said cap member with an elastic quality, said top section including a first sidewall having a first diameter;
• said base member is formed from a second, separate piece of cancellous bone that is mineralized, whereby said base member does not have an elastic quality, said base member including a second sidewall having a second diameter which is substantially equal to, but not greater than, said first diameter, whereby said proximal end of said base member is substantially coextensive with said top section of said cap member and wherein said first and second diameters are selected such that said outer periphery of said construct is delimited by said first sidewall of said top section of said cap member, and by said second sidewall of said base member;
• and
• said second surface of said top section of said cap member is in direct contact with said proximal end of said base member upon assembly of said multi-component construct, whereby said base member supports said top section such that said first surface of said top section is substantially flush with an outer surface of the original cartilage layer at the defect site.