A method of creating a penetration with reduced sidewall compaction in a surface of a bone or articular joint. The method includes the steps of positioning a surgical instrument in contact with the surface, applying a longitudinal force to the surgical instrument causing the surgical instrument to penetrate the surface thereby creating a penetration with at least one sidewall, and retracting the surgical instrument and strategically scraping a portion of the surgical instrument against a portion of the at least one sidewall to remove compacted material from the penetration, thereby creating a small surgically created wound in the surface having reduced compaction at the margins to promote rapid vascular penetration, cellular migration, and faster healing with an enhanced histologically confirmed maturing tissue. The surgical defect can be round or slit-like.
