Study Points to Relief for Patients with Persistent Hip Tendon Pain

A prospective multicenter study suggests that a minimally invasive, ultrasound-guided procedure using the TenJet device can substantially ease pain and improve function within six months for patients with stubborn gluteal tendinopathy.

NORTH BILLERICA, Mass. /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Ongoing pain along the outside of the hip can make it hard to sleep on one side, climb stairs, or sit for extended periods. For many people with gluteal tendinopathy, also called greater trochanteric pain syndrome, discomfort continues even after conservative treatment. Research published in Cureus reports on an ultrasound-guided procedure using TenJet in patients with recalcitrant gluteal tendinopathy.

“In this minimally invasive treatment, patients experienced improved pain and function at 6 months. These interim results provide evidence for options for this challenging condition,” said Christopher J. Mehallo, DO, principal investigator and board-certified surgical sports physician at Rothman Orthopaedics.

The ongoing prospective multicenter study followed 46 patients with long-standing gluteal tendinopathy who had already tried at least one conservative treatment before enrollment. Participants underwent a minimally invasive, ultrasound-guided outpatient procedure with the TenJet device. Developed by HydroCision, Inc., TenJet is intended to selectively remove degenerative tendon tissue while preserving nearby healthy tissue.

A condition that often leaves patients with few good options

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome is among the most common causes of hip pain seen in primary care and is estimated to account for 10% to 20% of all hip pain visits. It affects women far more often than men, especially in middle age and later life. For years, it was thought to be bursitis, but it is now understood to be mainly a tendon disorder: the gluteal tendons on the side of the hip gradually degenerate, with collagen becoming disorganized and unable to heal effectively on its own.

That distinction matters because conservative care may not fully address the underlying tendon damage. Research has shown that about one-third of patients still report pain a year after treatment begins, and nearly three in ten remain in pain five years later.

For people whose symptoms do not improve, treatment choices can be limited. Many have partial tendon damage and may not be candidates for open surgical repair, yet the pain and loss of function can remain substantial. The study authors say there is no clinical consensus on the best next step for patients who remain symptomatic after conservative therapy.

What the study will examine next

The published findings represent an interim six-month analysis from an ongoing study. Patients will continue to be followed for two years to assess longer-term outcomes. Because the research did not include a separate comparison group, it measures results after the TenJet procedure rather than comparing them with another treatment.

The study is being conducted across multiple academic centers, with patients consenting before treatment and outcomes tracked prospectively rather than drawn retrospectively from medical records. The authors say this design provides stronger clinical evidence than the smaller, single-center retrospective reports that have dominated the field so far.

About Rothman Orthopaedics

Rothman Orthopaedics is a leader in orthopedics, serving communities in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Florida with musculoskeletal care grounded in evidence-based medicine.

Providers treat patients at 32 office locations and hold surgical privileges at more than 70 facilities. The organization includes experts in ten orthopedic specialties, including spine, hip and knee, foot and ankle, shoulder and elbow, hand and wrist, sports medicine, physical medicine and rehabilitation, orthopedic oncology, and trauma and fracture care. Rothman Orthopaedics is known for clinical treatment, research, education, and technology.

Frequently recognized as a national and regional source of “Top Docs,” Rothman Orthopaedics serves as the official team physician for the Philadelphia Phillies and more than 40 college and high school teams, including Drexel University and Villanova University. It also partners with more than 100 corporate and community organizations each year, including Center City District and the Philadelphia Marathon. For more information, call (800) 321-9999 or visit www.RothmanOrtho.com.

About TenJet

TenJet is a patented medical device from HydroCision, Inc. used to treat chronic tendon pain through HydroCision’s FluidJet technology, which selectively removes degenerative tendon tissue while preserving healthy tissue nearby. Procedures are performed in an outpatient setting with real-time ultrasound guidance. To learn more, visit the TenJet patient page.

About HydroCision, Inc.

HydroCision, Inc., based in North Billerica, Massachusetts, focuses on commercializing its proprietary FluidJet technology, including TenJet. Its portfolio includes technologies and devices that use pressurized saline for targeted tissue resection across a range of clinical applications. These minimally invasive solutions are designed to support precise tissue removal and improve surgical outcomes in multiple medical specialties.

References

1. Dakkak M, Furey G, Rosero E, et al. Ultrasound-Guided Minimally Invasive Tenotomy Utilizing TenJet for Recalcitrant Gluteal Tendinopathy: A Six-Month Interim Analysis From a Prospective Multicenter Study. Cureus 18(9): e115717. doi:10.7759/cureus.115717

2. Mellor R, Bennell K, Grimaldi A, et al. Education plus exercise versus corticosteroid injection use versus a wait and see approach on global outcome and pain from gluteal tendinopathy: prospective, single blinded, randomised clinical trial. BMJ. 2018;361:k1662.

3. Khan KM, Cook JL, Kannus P, Maffulli N, Bonar SF. Time to abandon the “tendinitis” myth. BMJ. 2002;324(7338):626-627. doi:10.1136/bmj.324.7338.626. PMID: 11895810. PMCID: PMC1122566.

4. Lievense A, Bierma-Zeinstra S, Schouten B, Bohnen A, Verhaar J, Koes B. Prognosis of trochanteric pain in primary care. Br J Gen Pract. 2005;55(512):199-204. PMID: 15808035. PMCID: PMC1463090.

5. Study author affiliations include Cleveland Clinic Florida, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Rothman Orthopaedics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Stanford University, Atrium Health, Ochsner Health, and Penn Highlands Healthcare.

Media Contact

Debra Kurtz, Hydrocision Inc, 1 (978) 474-9300, dkurtz@hydrocision.com, hydrocision.com