The Tenex treatment is an innovative, minimally invasive therapeutic procedure for chronic tendon pain. Below you will find further information about the Tenex treatment as well as a list of selected specialists for this treatment method.
The Tenex Health method allows for targeted treatment of the affected tendon without the need for major surgery. This significantly minimizes risks and physical strain, which can be a great relief, especially for patients with long-standing conditions such as tennis elbow.
Compared to conventional surgical procedures, the Tenex technique offers a minimally invasive alternative, as healthy tissue is largely spared and only the degenerated tendon tissue is removed. An orthopedic specialist can assess whether this form of therapy is suitable and what individual benefits it offers to patients.
What is the Tenex procedure?
The Tenex procedure is an innovative, minimally invasive technique developed specifically to treat chronic tendon pain. Unlike more extensive surgeries, the Tenex procedure involves only a small 2-mm incision. Ultrasound is used to pinpoint the exact location of the damaged tissue within the tendon. A special Tenex probe is then inserted to precisely remove the damaged tissue, thereby relieving pain and promoting healing.
Current data show that Tenex Health TX® is now one of the established percutaneous procedures for treating chronic tendon conditions and has already been performed more than 150,000 times worldwide. Studies confirm that the targeted application of radiofrequency energy removes the degenerated tissue in the tendon using precise micro-vibrations without damaging the surrounding tissue.
For many patients suffering from persistent tendon problems, the procedure provides significant relief, as it accelerates healing and often allows a return to normal activities after just a short time.
Who is Tenex treatment suitable for?
Tenex treatment can be used for various types of chronic tendon pain that have not responded to other treatments such as shockwave therapy, PRP injections, magnetic field therapy, and physical therapy. Typical indications include:
- Calcific tendinitis: When calcium deposits have formed in the shoulder tendon and are causing severe pain.
- Tennis or golfer’s elbow: Chronic elbow pain caused by overuse of the tendons.
- Patellar tip syndrome: When the tendon attached to the kneecap is irritated and inflamed due to increased athletic strain.
- Achilles tendinitis: When the Achilles tendon is chronically inflamed and causes pain when walking.
- Trochanteric tendinopathy: When the tendon insertions at the hip are irritated and inflamed, causing pain when walking, standing, or lying on one’s side.
- Plantar fasciitis and heel spurs: When the plantar fascia at the heel is irritated and causes pain with every step or in the morning upon waking.
Ultrasound-guided Tenex Health TX® therapy: Minimally invasive removal of damaged tendon tissue to relieve chronic symptoms.
How does the treatment work?
The Tenex procedure is typically performed as an overnight inpatient procedure or on an outpatient basis. After a thorough examination, analgosedation, and local anesthesia, a small puncture incision is made in the skin. The specialized Tenex needle is inserted under ultrasound guidance. This highly specialized probe features an integrated ultrasound transducer that causes the water column in front of the needle tip to vibrate at 25 Hz. This precisely breaks down the degenerated tendon tissue, which is then immediately suctioned away via the water flushing system integrated into the needle. Under ultrasound guidance, this allows for the gentle removal of the damaged tissue and promotes the healing process. The procedure usually takes only a few minutes.
The Tenex method is considered a revolutionary treatment for stubborn tendon disorders, as the procedure combines percutaneous precision with a very gentle technique. The interventional probe targets only the affected area, leaving surrounding healthy tissue largely untouched. This not only minimizes the burden of the procedure itself but also often results in significantly faster relief compared to conventional treatments, which frequently require major surgery.
Another advantage is the short recovery time, as the treatment is performed through a tiny skin incision and does not result in a traditional surgical wound. Tenex Health TX® was specifically developed to remove degenerated tendon tissue without unnecessarily restricting the patient. Depending on the affected tendon, many patients can resume their normal activities after just a short period of rest, making this method an extremely practical alternative for everyday life.
Revolutionary Treatment Method for Tendon Problems: Benefits and Potential Risks of Tenex Treatment
Advantages of Tenex treatment
- Minimally invasive: Only a small puncture incision is required.
- Quick recovery: Most patients can quickly resume their daily activities.
- Low risk of complications: Compared to more extensive surgeries, the risk of complications is significantly lower.
- Precise treatment: The damaged tissue is selectively removed while healthy tissue is spared.
What are the potential risks?
As with any medical procedure, Tenex treatment carries a certain risk of complications. These include:
- Bleeding: In rare cases, minor bleeding may occur.
- Infections: There is a theoretical risk of infection, but it is significantly lower compared to conventional surgical procedures.
Revolutionary treatment for tendon problems—outpatient and minimally invasive
Recent studies—including publications in the American Journal of Sports Medicine—show that the Tenex method, as an ultrasound-guided procedure, is particularly precise. Through the use of ultrasound energy, degenerated tendon tissue can be removed with pinpoint accuracy without unnecessarily stressing surrounding tissue. Patients with elbow conditions, such as tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow, benefit in particular from the significantly lower level of trauma compared to traditional procedures.
Treatment with Tenex Health TX® is considered minimally invasive and has already been performed more than 150,000 times. The system uses high-frequency ultrasound pulses to gently loosen and aspirate damaged tissue. This significantly shortens recovery time, and patients can often return to their daily activities and sports more quickly—an important advantage over open surgery.
After Tenex Treatment & FAQs on the Tenex Procedure for Tendon Problems to Relieve Pain
After Treatment
After Tenex treatment, a bandage will be applied. You should rest your arm or leg for a few days and avoid putting weight on it for the duration prescribed by your doctor. Complementary regenerative treatment using focused shock wave therapy, magnetic field therapy, and, if necessary, PRP injections can further accelerate the healing process.
After Tenex treatment, a bandage will be applied. You should rest your arm or leg for a few days and avoid putting weight on it for the duration prescribed by your doctor. Complementary regenerative treatment using focused shock wave therapy, magnetic field therapy, and, if necessary, PRP injections can further accelerate the healing process.
Following the procedure, controlled immobilization plays an important role in allowing the surrounding tissue to recover. The procedure aims to specifically treat tendon problems in the affected tendon and relieve pain without unnecessarily irritating the surrounding tissue. Since only a very small incision is required and the treatment is performed using precise ultrasound energy, the risk of complications is minimized.
Compared to open surgery, studies—including those published in the Journal of Sports Medicine—show that the Tenex technique enables faster recovery. By precisely removing the damaged tissue, the structure of the healthy tendon is largely preserved, which supports more stable function in the long term. The gradual increase in activity is also carried out step by step to optimally promote healing of the affected tendon.
FAQs on Tenex Treatment
What is the Tenex procedure, and how exactly does it work?
The Tenex procedure is a minimally invasive, percutaneous procedure in which degenerated sections of the tendon are precisely removed using ultrasound. This restores the function of the affected tendon and provides lasting pain relief.
When is Tenex used—are conservative measures not sufficient?
The procedure is recommended when conservative treatments such as physical therapy, injections, or immobilization have not yielded sufficient improvement. Especially in cases of persistent symptoms—for example, in the elbow—Tenex offers a gentle alternative to traditional surgery.
How safe is the procedure?
The procedure is safe because the physician identifies the exact location of the damaged tissue using real-time ultrasound. The removal is performed with extreme precision, so that surrounding structures are spared and the risk of surgical complications is significantly lower than with open surgery.
How commonly is the Tenex technique used worldwide?
Over 150,000 Tenex treatments have now been performed. This high number demonstrates that the procedure is well-established and has become a reliable option in everyday clinical practice for patients with chronic tendon problems.
Is this method a complete alternative to surgical procedures?
For many patients, Tenex replaces a more extensive surgical procedure because only the damaged tissue is removed. Nevertheless, the specialist decides on a case-by-case basis whether the minimally invasive method is sufficient or whether additional treatments are necessary.
