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1834-A Jaclif Court
Tallahassee, FL 32308 -
(844) 4-WOUND-4
(844-496-8634) - Support@operationphoenixwoundcare.com
The reason standard care sometimes fails is because some patients have pre-existing health conditions. As an example, those with diabetes are well known for struggling to heal their wounds, even with the most dedicated wound-care providers. The reason amniotic treatments have such a high success rate is because they contain an abundance of regenerative components the body needs for repair. They have growth factors, proteins, collagen, and many other healing nutrients that not only rebuild new tissue but also grow new vessels within the wound to promote blood flow. More blood flow equals more healing.
We will need to gather your insurance details to determine that. Fortunately, this amniotic graft treatment is covered by several major insurance providers. If your insurance is eligible, most of the costs should be covered by your primary insurance. Supplementary insurance will cover the remainder. If you don’t have supplementary insurance, there may be a small deductible to pay. The provider who reaches out should have more details before you decide whether to proceed.
Absolutely. Amniotic biologics have been used to treat wounds since the 1900s. Today, these treatments are more widely accepted and are processed in conformity with FDA regulations. Some people who have never heard of amniotic treatments may understandably be concerned over their effectiveness. Fortunately, these products are covered by major insurance companies that wouldn’t cover treatments if they were considered experimental. The same can be said of the many clinics that use these products.
Some people might confuse amniotic tissue as some kind of fetal tissue—which it definitely is not. Human amniotic allografts are derived from the placenta which is a flat organ that develops in the uterus and supports the growing baby. After an infant is successfully delivered, the placenta soon follows. Once this temporary organ has left the womb, it is often discarded. However, mothers are given the opportunity to donate their placenta for scientific, life-saving purposes. And that is how these tissues are obtained.
As you undoubtedly know, whenever someone receives a transplanted kidney or some other kind of organ donated from another person, he or she would have to be on anti-rejection drugs for life. That’s because the body’s immune system would not normally recognize the transplanted organ. Without the anti-rejection drugs, the body’s immune system would attack the foreign organ. But amniotic tissue is completely different. It’s a special kind of tissue that’s considered immune-privileged, meaning it has natural anti-rejection properties. So, your body will completely accept it like its own.
Fortunately, no. These amniotic tissues are carefully processed according to strict FDA safety guidelines as HCT/Ps (human cells, tissues, and tissue-based products) and are screened, tested, and sterilized from bacteria, viruses, and all other contaminants.
That would be very unlikely since this treatment has a 90-95% success rate. But worst-case scenario, even if you were among the unfortunate 5-10% who did not improve, this treatment is covered by insurance, and at least you would know that you tried one of the best treatments available. Having said that, if you think about it, which would you rather place your odds: a 90-95% chance of healing your wound with amniotic grafts or the little-to-no success rate you’ve had so far with standard care?
Absolutely not. The application of these amniotic grafts is a gentle process that is pain-free. Some wounds that are scabbing up could prevent the graft from fully integrating into the wound. In such cases, the surrounding dead skin may require some gentle debridement, which is sloughing off of the old debris. That may cause some very mild discomfort. But the amniotic patch itself does not cause pain of any kind. In fact, as the wound heals, any existing pain will naturally lessen over time.
Certainly not in any significant way. It all depends on where the wound is located on the body. For patients with tailbone wounds, their issue may have been caused by lying in the same position for too long. If that’s the case, such an individual would need to be occasionally rolled to the side to support healing. If the wound is on the foot, extra care would need to be taken to minimize walking or placing pressure on that foot. Likewise, any shower would require a method to protect the wound from water.
Amniotic membrane allografts are placed onto the wound once per week. More frequency is not advised. This is because the amniotic patch requires a week to melt into the wound and release its healing factors and nutrients.
Once an amniotic patch has been applied, it’ll need to remain in place just the way the provider left it. You should never peel the patch away or adjust it from its original placement because the amniotic graft needs time to integrate with your wound. It’s important to keep the dressing clean, dry, and in place. The only time a dressing should be changed or replaced is if it’s no longer securely in place, if it gets wet or soiled, or if an infection somehow occurs. Under such circumstances, you should reach out to your provider for guidance.
There are a few medical disqualifiers that could prevent certain patients from receiving amniotic treatment. These include most cancers, sepsis, chemotherapy, and heavy smoking. Likewise, certain drugs, such as immunosuppressants, may interfere with the regenerative effects of the amniotic patch. However, after reviewing the medical history and patient’s health status, only the physician can make that determination. Keep in mind, uncontrolled infections or gangrene will need to be addressed and resolved before treatment can begin.
That depends on the size of the wound. A small wound may only take three to four weeks to heal. A large wound the size of the palm of your hand may take 10 weeks. Most wounds of average size take about six weeks. Compared to the time you’ve been struggling with your wound, six weeks would fly by.
