Colorado Doctor Uses Tenex Procedure To Fix Tendon Issues

By Kathy Walsh

DENVER (CBS4) - Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning made plantar fasciitis a familiar term. Now, a Colorado doctor is treating that painful foot problem and other tendon issues by targeting the damaged tissue and removing it through just one small incision.

It's called the Tenex procedure. It is minimally invasive, done in the doctor's office, and takes just a matter of minutes. The key to the technique is ultrasound.

Blair MacNeill is undergoing the treatment for tennis elbow. He played sports all his life. He's broken both his leg and arm, and his nose at least 4 times. At 55, he's lived with the pain of tennis elbow. But recently it worsened.

"No tennis, throwing a ball was painful, a real sharp pain, " MacNeill told CBS 4 Health Specialist Kathy Walsh.

Sports and family medicine doctor John Hill diagnosed the problem as tendinosis.

"There's tears in the tendon. Then the tendon degenerates and turns into kind of a mushy consistency which is very painful," said Hill.

Nine months ago, Dr. Hill worked on the elbow. Now, MacNeill is back to treat some lingering pain. At the University of Colorado Hospital's sports medicine clinic, Dr. Hill used ultrasound to find the problem area.

"There's still an area where there's a black hole in the tendon," Hill explained to MacNeill.

With ultrasound guidance, Dr. Hill inserts a needle and numbs the area with a local anesthetic. Then, through a tiny incision, he guides what's call the Tenex device.

It delivers ultrasound pulsations or ultrasonic energy. Dr. Hill says it liquefies the damaged tissue, removing it and stimulating a healing response.

"Then the two sides of the normal tissue will heal back together again," said Hill.

The Tenex procedure takes about 20 minutes, no stitches.

MacNeill may be uncomfortable for a day or two, but he is encouraged to get moving again. Full recovery can be as early as six weeks.

Asked if he expects to be good as new, MacNeill said, "I sure hope so. I plan on it."

Hill says the Tenex procedure can be used on a number of tendon problems including tennis elbow, plantar fasciitis, shoulder, patellar and Achilles tendon injuries.

Kathy Walsh is CBS4's Weekend Anchor and Health Specialist. She has been with CBS4 for more than 30 years. She is always open to story ideas. Follow Kathy on Twitter @WalshCBS4.