Tenotomy › TendoNova
Mechanical Tenotomy Device
The TendoNova Procedure for Chronic Tendon Pain
TendoNova is one of the newest ways to treat a tendon that has stopped healing. It clears out the damaged tissue through a tiny opening in the skin, with no water stream and no open surgery, so you can get back to moving without the wait of a long recovery. It is the tenotomy system Dr. Ilana Etelzon has been using most recently.
Double Board-Certified
Ultrasound-Guided
In-Office, Same Day
Overview
What TendoNova does
When a tendon is overused or injured, areas inside it break down and stop healing. That worn tissue, called tendinosis, is what keeps the pain going long after the first strain. TendoNova is a form of tenotomy, the minimally invasive treatment that goes after that tissue directly.
Using live ultrasound to see inside the tendon, Dr. Etelzon guides the TendoNova device through a needle-sized opening and breaks down the degenerated tissue mechanically, so the body can clear it and rebuild. There is no open incision, no general anesthesia, and no stitches. The opening closes with a bandage.
See how tenotomy works ›
Two ways to treat a tendon
TendoNova and TenJet, side by side
Dr. Etelzon performs tenotomy with two systems and picks the one that fits your tendon and the extent of the damage. The difference comes down to how each one clears the worn tissue.
On this page
TendoNova
TendoNova does the work mechanically. The device breaks down and removes the degenerated tissue directly, with no fluid involved. That makes for a clean, controlled procedure, and it works well in tighter or more delicate areas. It is the system Dr. Etelzon has reached for most recently.
Compare
TenJet
TenJet uses a fast stream of saline to cut away and flush out the worn tissue in one step. The fluid carries the debris out through the same opening it entered. It is a strong option for thicker, heavily degenerated tendons where clearing more volume helps.
Learn about the TenJet procedure ›
Conditions
Tendon problems TendoNova can treat
TendoNova is a good fit for long-standing tendon pain that has not eased with rest, therapy, or injections.
Plantar Fasciitis
Stubborn heel and arch pain from breakdown in the plantar fascia.
Tennis & Golfer's Elbow
Lateral and medial epicondylitis that has not settled with therapy.
Achilles Tendinosis
Chronic pain and thickening in the Achilles tendon above the heel.
Rotator Cuff & Shoulder
Shoulder tendon degeneration and ongoing rotator cuff pain.
Hip Tendinopathy
Gluteal and outer-hip tendon pain, including trochanteric cases.
Patellar Tendon
Jumper's knee and other long-running patellar tendon pain.
Dr. Etelzon reviews your imaging and examines the tendon before recommending TendoNova or any tenotomy.
Your Visit
What the procedure is like
TendoNova is done in the office, and the whole visit usually takes about an hour. The treatment itself is often finished in fifteen to twenty minutes. You stay awake the entire time, with a local anesthetic numbing the area so you feel pressure at most.
- NumbingA local anesthetic settles the tendon and skin.
- ImagingLive ultrasound pinpoints the worn tissue.
- TreatmentThe TendoNova device clears it through a tiny opening.
- Home the same dayA bandage closes the site and most patients drive home.
Most patients ease back into light activity within a few days, and the tendon keeps rebuilding over the following weeks. Because the worn tissue is gone, the relief tends to hold instead of fading like a temporary shot.
Who performs it
Precision is what makes it work
Dr. Ilana Etelzon is double board-certified in pain medicine and physical medicine and rehabilitation, and she performs every TendoNova procedure under live imaging. Seeing the tendon in real time is what lets her reach the worn tissue and leave the healthy tendon around it alone.
"What I like about TendoNova is the control. I can see the damaged tissue on ultrasound, clear exactly it, and protect everything healthy around it. That precision is what gets people back to the activities they love."
Dr. Ilana Etelzon, MD, Double Board-Certified Pain Physician
Find Us
TendoNova across New York and New Jersey
Dr. Etelzon offers TendoNova tenotomy at four offices, so you can get treated close to where you live and work.
Brooklyn, NY
Clifton, NJ
Newark, NJ
Perth Amboy, NJ
See if TendoNova is right for your tendon
Bring us the tendon that has been holding you back. Dr. Etelzon will review it, look at your imaging, and show you the path forward. The first visit is a conversation, not a commitment.
Book a Consultation