From tennis elbow to Achilles tendonitis, many people suffer from chronic tendon pain. A new, minimally invasive tennis elbow treatment at Panorama Orthopedics & Spine Center is offering these patients relief and getting them back to their favorite activities more quickly.
Tendonitis in the elbow (tennis elbow), knee or foot can often be treated using physical therapy, bracing and/or steroid injections. But for some people, these treatments don’t work – usually because of scarring or the lack of blood supply to the tendon. And that’s where Tenex, an outpatient procedure that uses ultrasound and a tiny incision, comes in.
“Most people who have a tendon injury get better in a few months, but there are some people who don’t,” said Dr. Karen Knight. She specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Panorama. “Tenex is a very effective minimally invasive treatment to get them back on track.”
Tenex has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. About 25,000 cases have been performed in the United States with outstanding results.
During the procedure, the physician makes an incision measuring just a couple of millimeters long. Next, a small wand with ultrasonic energy is used to dissolve the scar tissue, while the healthy tissue is left untouched. Dissolving the scar tissue allows the injured tendon an opportunity to heal. And the tiny incision means patients experience less pain and a quicker recovery.
Patients can expect their activity to be restricted for just a couple of weeks, with most people returning to their favorite pastimes within two months. “Even though I see the most challenging patients, we’ve had very good results with it,” Dr. Knight said. Dr. Knight performs the short procedure, which is covered by insurance, at the Golden Ridge Surgery Center.
