Tendon and ligament injuries can be debilitating and cause chronic heel pain that affects daily activities. With the Topaz® Coblation treatment, patients can experience pain relief and renewed mobility with minimal recovery and scarring.
Is heel discomfort preventing you from carrying out your daily tasks? Are you unable to participate in your favorite sports and activities because of chronic pain?
You may be diagnosed with Achilles tendonitis or plantar fasciitis, two conditions that cause chronic heel pain.
Patients who do not respond to nonsurgical treatment methods may benefit from Topaz, a minimally invasive procedure with a short recovery time and no scarring.
If you are interested in the Topaz procedure, read more below.
Heal Tendon and Ligament Injuries with Topaz
Tendon and Ligament Conditions
The tendons and ligaments of the foot are thick bands of tissue that run along the sole of the foot, the top of the foot, and behind the heel.
The Achilles tendon, which is located behind the heel, can become inflamed with repetitive overload. This is known as tendonitis.
Chronic Achilles tendon pain is called Achilles tendinosis and may require surgery if the condition does not improve with conservative treatments. Tendinosis can cause degenerative damage to the tendon, including partial or complete detachment.
Plantar fasciitis is another tendon condition in which the tendons near the base of the heel on the bottom of the foot become inflamed and painful. The pain is sharp in the morning and during inactivity but improves with activity. Plantar fasciitis treatment may also require surgery if the condition doesn’t respond to nonsurgical treatments.
Thankfully, these conditions can be treated with a minimally invasive surgery that allows patients to return to regular activities in less than six weeks.
What is Topaz?
The Topaz Coblation treatment is a minimally invasive procedure that treats chronic tendon and ligament conditions with innovative technology.
It is the next step for patients who have not responded to conservative treatment methods. The treatment is personalized to each patient’s case to ensure the greatest healing benefits and fastest recovery.
The Topaz probe creates microscopic holes to break up scar tissue in the injured portion of the Achilles tendon or plantar fascia ligament. The holes encourage blood to flow to the area, supplying much-needed oxygen and nutrients to heal the damaged tendon or ligament.
Procedure
The entire Topaz treatment is a same-day procedure and takes less than 20 minutes to administer.
You can expect the following while receiving your Topaz treatment:
- Local anesthesia is applied to the affected area.
- Dr. Frankel will administer the Topaz probe to the affected area by poking microscopic holes through the skin into the damaged tendon or ligament.
- The probe is applied for a half-second for each hole in a grid-like pattern. The holes are about a quarter-inch apart.
- The Topaz probe applies radiofrequency waves at a low temperature that dissolve the scar tissue within the tendon or ligament and encourage blood flow to the area.
- The affected area will be washed with a saline solution to remove the damaged tissue.
- Once the procedure is complete, the area will be bandaged.
Depending on the patient’s condition, the patient may be able to bear weight on the foot right after surgery or a splint or cast may be applied for one or several weeks.
Benefits and Precautions
The Topaz treatment uses contemporary technology to heal chronic tendon and ligament pain. The benefits that patients may experience include:
- No scarring: Only microscopic holes are needed to perform this procedure, so no incision is required which means no scarring.
- Speedy recovery: The recovery after the Topaz treatment is a fraction of the recovery time compared to traditional surgery methods.
- Minimal damage to healthy tissue: Since the Topaz probe is able to target the damaged tissue, the healthy tissue surrounding the area is unaffected.
- Pain relief: Patients will experience pain relief after their recovery. While pain may not disappear immediately after the surgery, patients who have had the Topaz treatment report that pain gradually dissolves over a six-week period.
- Mobility: The healed tendon or ligament will have increased mobility.
These benefits are heightened when patients take care of their feet by wearing comfortable and supportive shoes, engage in stretching and strengthening exercises, and avoid activities that place repetitive overload on their feet.
That being said, there are some precautions to note regarding Topaz.
Not every patient may qualify for Topaz. For example, patients with partial tears in the fascia or tendon may be at risk for rupture using the Topaz treatment. Certain conditions such as neurogenic disease and bone and joint abnormalities may be a cause for concern as well.
Dr. Frankel will provide the best treatment for your individual case during a consultation.
Nonsurgical Alternatives
If you have chronic heel pain, contact Frankel Foot & Ankle today. Dr. Frankel will observe your condition and determine the best method for you. You may be prescribed conservative treatments to see if your injury improves before turning to the Topaz treatment.
Nonsurgical alternatives to Topaz for Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis include:
- Anti-inflammatory medications
- Orthotics
- Wearing proper-fitting shoes
- Immobilization
- Rest from activities that aggravate pain
- Icing the affected area
- Elevation
- Physical therapy
- Platelet rich plasma (PRP) therapy
If you have tried one or more of these conservative methods and still experience pain from Achilles tendonitis and plantar fasciitis, you may be a candidate for Topaz.
Visit Dr. Frankel today for a consultation to heal your foot and heel pain.
Contact Frankel Foot & Ankle today.
Dr. Frankel founded Frankel Foot & Ankle to provide patients in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey tri-state area with the latest advances in diagnostic technology and treatment for sports medicine conditions, foot and ankle trauma response, and innovative surgical and regenerative approaches. Contact Frankel Foot & Ankle today.
