Chronic Wound Care
IMPROVE HEALING OUTCOMES IN CHRONIC WOUNDS with Advanced Regenerative Medicine
Chronic wounds affect an estimated 8 million people worldwide and are often a result of underlying health conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, malnutrition, etc.
These wounds have failed to progress through the phases of healing in an orderly and timely fashion and have shown no significant progress toward healing in 30 days. Chronic wounds are sometimes referred to as hard-to-heal or difficult-to-heal injuries. Some of the factors that lead to the chronicity of the injury are pressure or lower extremity wounds, increased bacterial load, excessive proteases, senescent/aberrant cells, and inappropriate treatment.
Everyone with an acute wound is at high risk of developing a chronic injury. However, there are categories of individuals at higher risk. They include individuals with the following conditions:
Diabetes - Severe burns - Cancer - High cholesterol - A weakened immune system - HIV/AIDS - Vascular disease
Chronic medical conditions - Heart disease - Atherosclerosis - Anemia - Deep vein thrombosis - Hypertension
Obesity Sedentary lifestyle - Bed rest - Varicose veins - Previous history of ulcers - Elderly - Immobility
Unhealthy lifestyles (smoking, poor diet etc.) - Multiple surgeries
Chronic wounds are those that do not progress through a normal, orderly, and timely sequence of repair. They are common and are often incorrectly treated. The morbidity and associated costs of chronic wounds highlight the need to implement wound prevention and treatment guidelines
What is Advanced Regenerative Medicine?
Regenerative medicine is focused on developing and applying new treatments to heal tissues and organs and restore function lost due to aging, disease, damage or defects.
Who Qualifies for Advanced Regenerative Medicine
for Chronic Wounds?
Facts:
Diabetic Foot Ulcer patients are twice as costly to US Medicare as those with diabetes alone
1 million dollars is spent every 30 seconds on diabetic foot complications in the USA alone
The cost of diabetic foot Ulcers is greater than of five most costly forms of cancer
In the United States, a total of $176 billion is spent annually on direct costs for diabetes
Who we Help
People with Ulcers
Ulcers are the most common type of chronic wound and can occur for several reasons. They are open wounds that develops on the skin as a result of injury, poor circulation, or pressure. People are encouraged to always keep an eye out for any warning signs and to talk to a doctor especially if one has any risk factors. Some common chronic wound ulcers include venous ulcers, arterial ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers and pressure ulcers.
People with Infectious Wounds
Infectious wounds develop when an infection isn’t treated correctly. These wounds are dangerous since the infection can spread to the blood and to different parts of the body. In most cases, Infectious wounds have a foul odour, pus, drainage, dead tissue, inflammation, debris and a fever.
People with Ischemic Wounds
Ischemic wounds are any wound that isn’t getting enough blood supply. The limited blood supply also means that an area isn’t being oxygenated properly and is not getting enough nutrients for a healthy healing process. Some common signs and symptoms of ischemic wounds include a weakened pulse which can cause the area to become pale and even cold.
People with Surgical & Radiation Poisoning Wounds
Surgical Wounds are wounds that develop after one undergoes a surgery and there is damage to the blood supply or care is not given to the surgical wounds properly. Surgical wounds that have become chronic appear swollen, hot and reddish.
Radiation Poisoning Wounds are wounds from either accidental radiation or therapeutic radiation.
How We Help With Amniotic Tissue Products
What are amniotic products?
These amniotic tissues, or allografts, are transplanted to provide protection and support for native tissues in the body. The amniotic membrane is the innermost layer of the placenta which nourishes and maintains an unborn child. Amniotic fluid is the liquid that surrounds the baby until delivery.
What is amniotic allograft?
Amniotic tissue allografts are human amniotic fluid and/or amniotic membrane tissues that have been minimally manipulated into a liquid or patch format. Amniotic tissue allografts can be placed on or around a wound to serve the same function that they do in utero, which is to cover, protect and nourish tissue.
What is amnion skin graft?
Amniotic tissues contain many regenerative cytokines, growth factors, and extracellular matrix molecules including proteoglycans, hyaluronic acid, and collagens I, III, and IV. Dehydrated amnion/chorion grafts are currently used to treat a variety of wounds such as diabetic foot ulcers and burns.
What is an amnion patch?
Amnion Patches are regenerative allografts that may be used as a therapeutic agent in numerous clinical applications. Due to its fetal origin, the innate capability of the tissue supports regenerative rather than scar-mediated healing.
How is the Amniotic Membrane applied?
Step 1
Prior to application of the membrane, a thorough history of the patient is necessary as to how the wound was formed, any previous treatments and Chronic Illnesses along with eligibility.
Step 2
The wound bed is prepared by performing debridement of the wound, removing any necrotic tissue and assessing for any signs of infections.
Step 3
The membrane is placed on the wound.
Note: Most patients require an average of 5 treatments to completely heal the wound. Medicare will cover up to 10 treatments over a 12 week period.