5 Questions About the TenJet Procedure, Answered

“TenJet is a minimally invasive treatment designed to remove damaged tendon tissue and relieve chronic pain,” explains Dr. Khajaei. “It uses a specialized, high-pressure saline system to precisely target and eliminate diseased tissue while preserving healthy tendon structure. This procedure is commonly used for chronic tendon conditions that haven’t improved with conservative treatments, like rest, physical therapy or injections.”

TenJet treats a variety of conditions, including tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), golfer’s elbow (medial epicondylitis), Achilles tendinopathy, jumper’s knee (patellar tendinopathy), plantar fasciitis, rotator cuff tendinopathy, calcific tendinitis and greater trochanteric pain syndrome (trochanteric bursitis), or gluteal tendinopathy.

TenJet combines a high-pressure saline stream with suction to remove damaged tissue in a precise, controlled manner.

First, the area is numbed with local anesthesia to ensure patient comfort — no general anesthesia is required. Using real-time ultrasound guidance, the physician identifies the exact location of the damaged tendon tissue.

"A small, needle-sized puncture is then made in the skin, and a thin TenJet probe is inserted into the affected area. The device delivers a high-pressure saline jet that breaks apart diseased tissue while simultaneously suctioning it out," explains Dr. Khajaei.

Healthy tendon fibers are preserved because they're stronger and more resistant to the saline stream. The procedure typically takes 10 to 30 minutes and usually requires only a small bandage rather than stitches.

Dr. Khajaei explains that “TenJet offers several advantages compared to traditional treatment options. Because it’s a minimally invasive procedure, it doesn’t require large incisions or stitches, which reduces the risk of complications and scarring.”

One of the most important benefits of this procedure is that it targets the root cause of pain by removing the damaged tissue rather than masking symptoms. It also preserves healthy tendon tissue, which supports better long-term healing.

“Compared to cortisone injections, the TenJet procedure avoids the potential risk of weakening the tendon over time,” shares Dr. Khajaei. “Compared to open surgery, it offers a faster recovery, less downtime and fewer complications overall.”

While physical therapy is also a helpful treatment method, TenJet directly addresses the damaged tissue that may be preventing full recovery.

The best candidates are those with chronic tendon pain lasting several weeks or months, who haven’t found relief with conservative treatment methods, like rest, medication, physical therapy or injections.

Most patients experience significant improvement in pain and function, particularly when the condition is accurately diagnosed and appropriately treated.

"Recovery is typically faster than with traditional surgery," says Dr. Khajaei. "Many patients return to light activity within one to two days. Noticeable improvement often begins within two to four weeks, with continued healing over time."

Full recovery generally occurs around six weeks, depending on the tendon treated and adherence to post-procedure rehabilitation.