TenJet Treatment for Tendinitis
When rest, ice, and physical therapy haven't put a dent in your tendinitis, TenJet is worth a look. It's a microinvasive option, even less invasive than a typical minimally invasive procedure, that offers many of the benefits of surgery without the recovery time that usually comes with it.
This technology is for just about anyone. Patients who have had the TenJet procedure have ranged from teen athletes to patients in their nineties. Dr. Christopher Varacallo, DO, CAQSM, FAAFP, performs TenJet procedures for patients across our Sports Medicine locations.
How the TenJet Procedure Works
TenJet uses a pressurized, high-velocity stream of saline that shoots from a needle passed through a pinpoint incision in the skin. That stream flushes out and removes degenerative tendon tissue while preserving the healthy tissue around it. Your provider guides the needle with ultrasound imaging the whole time, so it's precise rather than exploratory.
The procedure itself typically takes under 30 minutes, done with local anesthetic. Closing up afterward takes nothing more than medical tape or a bandage, no stitches required.
Conditions It Treats
Tendinitis develops when a tendon becomes irritated, inflamed, or suffers microscopic tears, often from repetitive motion or overuse. TenJet is used for jumper's knee, tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, and bursitis, the kinds of chronic tendon pain that tend to show up in athletes and active adults alike, though anyone can develop them. If a sports injury or overuse pattern is behind your pain, our team can help you figure out whether TenJet is the right fit.
Recovery and What to Expect
Most patients are back to their normal activity within a single day. Because the incision is so small and no stitches are involved, TenJet avoids the scarring and lingering post-procedure pain that can come with more invasive tendon surgery.
Sports Medicine
Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - Clarion
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - DuBois COE
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - St. Marys
A Service of Penn Highlands DuBois
Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine - State College
A Service of Penn Highlands Huntingdon
Frequently Asked Questions
TenJet is a microinvasive treatment for chronic tendinitis. A pressurized saline stream, guided by ultrasound, flushes degenerative tendon tissue out through a pinpoint incision, offering many of the benefits of surgery without traditional surgical recovery.
No. It's done through a pinpoint incision rather than an open surgical approach, uses only local anesthetic, and typically takes under 30 minutes. Most patients return to normal activity the next day, which is much faster than recovery from traditional tendon surgery.
This technology works for just about anyone dealing with chronic tendinitis, from teen athletes to patients in their nineties. Your provider can confirm whether TenJet is a good fit for your specific case during a consultation.
The procedure is performed under local anesthetic, so patients are awake but shouldn't feel significant pain during the process. Some soreness at the incision site afterward is normal and typically resolves quickly.
Referral needs vary by insurance carrier and by whether you're already established with one of our providers. Give our office a call and we'll check your specific situation before your visit.
