A technique born from clinical observation
Percutaneous Hydrotomy is a treatment technique that involves injecting a small amount of physiological saline solution just under the skin, using very fine needles. The solution is essentially salt water, at roughly the same concentration as the body's own fluids. It has been used for around forty years to support chronic joint and muscle pain, particularly osteoarthritis, tendinitis, and certain inflammatory digestive conditions.
The technique is derived from mesotherapy, developed by Dr. Michel Pistor, and was refined by Dr. Guez through repeated clinical observation of its effects on patients.
What happens during a session?
Injections are given with extremely fine needles, either subcutaneously or intradermally. Depending on the situation, the practitioner may use localized injections targeting a specific area, or a more diffuse infusion known as mesoperfusion, for larger areas or more severe pain.
Water plays a central role in this technique, on three levels:
- Hydration: degenerating structures such as cartilage, tendons, and discs often need rehydrating to regain some of their flexibility and function.
- Transport: the solution acts as a vehicle to deliver useful elements for regeneration (micronutrients, trace elements) directly where they're needed.
- Wash-out: in inflamed tissue, the injection promotes a kind of extracellular "cleaning" that helps reduce the presence of the mediators responsible for pain.
Once the area is "cleared," the body's own circulation and natural repair mechanisms can get back to work more effectively.
Is it painful? What are the risks?
The procedure is generally described as painless, or only very mildly uncomfortable: the needles used are so fine that sensation is minimal. There's no scarring.
Side effects are rare: occasional small bruising at the injection site, or temporary sensitivity in the treated area for a few hours afterward, have been reported. Intolerance to the solution itself remains exceptional.
As with any treatment, your medical history is taken into account before starting. That's also part of what the first consultation is for.
What kind of pain is it used for?
At Centre Algos, Percutaneous Hydrotomy is mainly used for:
- osteoarthritis (knee, hip, hand, spine)
- tendinitis, including sport-related tendinitis
- chronic joint and muscle pain
- certain inflammatory digestive and urinary conditions (autoimmune conditions, Crohn's disease, irritable bowel, cystitis, pyelonephritis)
How many sessions are needed varies depending on the area involved, how long the pain has been present, and individual response to treatment. This is discussed concretely at your first consultation, not prescribed as a fixed standard in advance.
What does clinical experience actually say?
That's an honest question, and it deserves an honest answer rather than a promise.
Percutaneous Hydrotomy isn't conventional medicine built on large randomized clinical trials; it doesn't claim to be. It's a complementary technique whose foundation is repeated clinical observation over several decades: practitioners who, year after year, see improvement in their patients, within a technique whose safety is well established (reported side effects are rare).
That doesn't mean everyone responds the same way, and that would be true of any treatment, conventional or not. It means this is an option worth considering with a clear view of what it actually is: a complementary approach, not a substitute for medical care, and not a guarantee of results.
Is it right for your situation?
The best way to find out is to talk about it directly. Every pain journey is different, and whether Percutaneous Hydrotomy has a place in yours deserves a real conversation, not a generic answer.