"The Taco Technique": A Basal Joint Reconstruction Case Series Using a Meniscal Allograft

The purpose of this study is to report the effectiveness of meniscal allograft arthroplasty of the basal joint via patient-reported outcome measures, specifically highlighting subjective pain levels and reported return to function.

A total of 90 patients underwent basal joint reconstruction with a meniscal allograft using this study's reported novel technique between 2022 and 2024. Inclusion criteria consisted of available procedure notes and follow-up with pain and range of motion assessments and telephone survey. Pain levels during these assessments were obtained on a Likert scale of 10.

A total of 30 cases met the inclusion criteria, with a mean age of 70.2 years. On average, daily pain prior to surgery was 8.76 out of 10. Pain levels at rest and with activity were reported as 1.21 and 4.19 at 1 month follow-up and 2.23 and 3.23 at the time of telephone survey, respectively. The mean follow-up of the telephone questionnaire was 11.2 months. Overall, an improvement in pain levels of about 75% can be observed. With no complications, all patients agreed that they have returned to their prior normal function, taking an average of 128.7 days.

This approach to treating basal joint arthritis shows comparable outcomes with other procedures. Limitations include the small sample size, retrospective telephone format of survey, absence of a control group, and lack of a uniform timeline. Our findings demonstrate that a basal joint reconstruction using a meniscal allograft can restore range of motion and reduce pain while maintaining patient satisfaction.