Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2026
07:24
Autologous Microfractured and Purified Adipose Tissue for Arthroscopic Management of Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus
Published on: January 23, 2018
"The Taco Technique": A Basal Joint Reconstruction Case Series Using a Meniscal Allograft
Emma M Eng1, Taylor Rakauskas1, Lucas Vieira1
1Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, USA.
Hand (New York, N.Y.)
|August 13, 2026
Summary
Meniscal allograft arthroplasty effectively reduced basal joint pain and restored function in patients. This basal joint reconstruction shows promising results for arthritis treatment.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic surgery
- Biomaterials in medicine
Background:
- Basal joint arthritis significantly impacts patient function and pain.
- Current treatments for basal joint arthritis have limitations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of meniscal allograft arthroplasty for basal joint reconstruction.
- To assess patient-reported outcomes, including pain and return to function.
Main Methods:
- A novel technique for basal joint reconstruction using meniscal allograft was employed in 90 patients.
- Inclusion criteria involved procedure notes, pain, range of motion assessments, and telephone surveys.
- Pain levels were measured on a 10-point Likert scale.
Main Results:
- 30 cases met inclusion criteria; mean age was 70.2 years.
- Pre-operative pain averaged 8.76/10, significantly decreasing post-surgery.
- Patients reported ~75% improvement in pain and returned to prior function within an average of 128.7 days.
Conclusions:
- Meniscal allograft arthroplasty for basal joint reconstruction demonstrates comparable outcomes to other procedures.
- The technique effectively restores range of motion, reduces pain, and maintains patient satisfaction.
- Limitations include small sample size and retrospective survey design.