When tendinitis or a stubborn tendon injury lingers for months despite rest, physical therapy, and cortisone injections, it can start to feel like surgery is your only remaining option. Minimally invasive tendon treatment offers another route forward for chronic tendon pain that has not responded to standard conservative care like rest, bracing, or a course of guided physical therapy.
At Modern Edge Sports & Orthopedic Medicine, Dr. Michael Wong, DO is a tendon injury specialist who offers the TendoNova® percutaneous micro-tenotomy procedure, a minimally invasive treatment performed right in our office. Board-certified and trained through UPMC, Dr. Mike built his practice around helping patients recover using non-surgical, evidence-informed care whenever it is appropriate for their condition.
If chronic tendon pain has been holding you back, schedule a consultation with our team to find out whether this procedure may be a good fit for your recovery.
The TendoNova® procedure is a minimally invasive tendon procedure that uses a small, ultrasound-guided device inserted through a tiny puncture in the skin to gently break down disorganized scar tissue within a chronically degenerated tendon, a condition sometimes called tendinopathy. Rather than cutting or removing healthy tissue, the device is designed to disrupt the non-healing scar tissue and encourage fresh blood flow into the area, which can help restart the tendon’s own repair process.
The procedure is performed with local anesthesia, so you stay comfortable while remaining awake throughout the visit.
This approach is generally considered for patients with more severe or chronic tendinopathy that has not improved after several months of physical therapy, activity modification, or corticosteroid injections. It is not typically the first step in treatment. Dr. Mike will confirm the diagnosis with a diagnostic ultrasound evaluation before recommending this procedure, since accurately identifying the affected tissue is essential to a good outcome.
Conditions sometimes treated with this approach include:
Using real-time musculoskeletal ultrasound, Dr. Mike locates the exact area of diseased tendon tissue before numbing the site with a local anesthetic. The treatment itself is completed through a very small puncture, meaning there are no stitches and only minimal scarring. Most patients notice some soreness for a few days afterward as the tendon begins its healing response, and light activity can typically resume within a day or two. Dr. Mike will provide a personalized rehabilitation plan and coordinate with your physical therapist to guide progressive loading as your tendon heals.
Because the TendoNova® device allows the working cannula to remain in place after the scar tissue is treated, Dr. Mike can sometimes deliver PRP injections directly into the freshly treated tendon during the same visit. This procedure is also sometimes combined with the PiezoWave²T Focal Shockwave device, either before or after treatment, to help support circulation in the surrounding tissue. Percutaneous tenotomy itself has been studied in peer-reviewed orthopedic literature, and some early research suggests combining these approaches may support the tendon’s healing response, though outcomes vary from patient to patient and this combination is not appropriate for every case.
If you have questions about coverage, our team can walk you through your insurance and self-pay options before your visit.
Traditional tendon surgery involves an incision, general anesthesia, and time in an operating room, along with a longer recovery. TendoNova® is performed through a tiny skin puncture under local anesthesia in our office, using ultrasound guidance to treat only the affected tissue while leaving healthy tendon intact.
Dr. Mike numbs the treatment area with a local anesthetic before starting, so most patients feel only light pressure during the procedure itself. It is normal to have some soreness for a few days afterward as the tendon begins its healing response, similar to a deep muscle ache.
Most patients resume light daily activities within a day or two, though recovery timelines depend on which tendon was treated and how severe the injury was. Dr. Mike will provide a personalized rehabilitation plan to guide you back toward your normal activities and sports safely.
Performing this procedure in our office instead of a surgery center can mean less time away from work, no facility fees, and no general anesthesia, since the treatment is done with local numbing alone. This is not the case for every patient or every procedure, so Dr. Mike will let you know during your consultation whether an in-office visit is the right fit for your situation.
Our team at Modern Edge Sports & Orthopedic Medicine offers a full range of non-surgical tendon care, and scheduling a visit is easy. You can request an appointment online any time, and our team will follow up to confirm the details before your visit. We look forward to helping you get back to doing what you love.