Wound Care in St. Petersburg, FL

Amniotic membrane has a number of characteristics that make it especially suited to wound healing. The amniotic membrane:

• contains a significant number of cytokines and essential growth factors
• reduces pain when applied to a wound
• increases and enhances the wound healing process
• has antibacterial properties
• is non-immunogenic (will not be seen as foreign material)
• provides a biological barrier
• provides a matrix for migration and proliferation of cells
• reduces inflammation
• reduces scar tissue formation

Traditionally, amniotic membrane has been used on burns; nowadays, however, amniotic membrane can be used on a wide variety of wounds. It is important to note that amniotic membrane should be used only after conservative treatment has failed. In other words, amniotic membrane may be used for wounds that are chronic and non-healing.

After one to two weeks the amniotic membrane allograft will be incorporated into the wound. You should begin to see improvement in the wound in terms of size and depth within 2 to 3 weeks, or even sooner. We can apply a second graft once slowing of wound healing has occurred, as typically observed by wound measurements over time. (6)

Amniotic Membrane helps chronic wounds heal in 4 ways:

1. Faster healing time - Speedy healing times are essential to prevent chronic wound recurrence and minimize the risk of infection. Amniotic membrane is rich in human growth factors and cytokines which initiate the healing response. It also provides a flexible matrix to allow for the migration and rapid growth of cells, making it the ideal medium to facilitate accelerated epithelialization and reduce wound healing times. Research suggests that amniotic membranes have an effect on keratinocytes which allows wounds that were previously unable to epithelialize to heal with healthy granular activity. The healing progressed significantly quicker with amniotic membrane involved than when standard wound care treatments were used. (7)
2. Reduced scarring - Wound fibrosis results in permanent scar tissue forming to replace the normal, parenchymal tissue, thereby altering the structure and function of tissues and organs. Preventing fibrosis is not only aesthetically important but also vital for preserving the barrier function of the skin. (7)
3. Reduced risk of infection - An amniotic membrane allograft provides a protective biological barrier to the wound that prevents infection during healing while simultaneously creating an anti-bacterial layer on the wound. Studies have shown that mesenchymal stromal cells found in amniotic membranes inhibit the formation of fibrosis by reducing the production and retention of B cells which, in turn, modulates the activity of T cells to effectively minimize inflammation. (7)
4. Pain relief - Amniotic membranes have powerful pain-relieving properties. Many researchers believe this is because amniotic membranes reduce inflammation, improve wound bed hydration, and form a protective barrier around exposed nerve endings. Studies have also shown that patients who had undergone a Caesarian section and had amniotic membranes applied to the wound required fewer analgesics than the control group. (7)

That all depends on your insurance policy. We will verify your policy for you, to make sure there is coverage. If you are covered, you will be responsible for your deductible, copay and co-insurance, just like with any other medical visits. We submit the claim to your insurance provider after the visit. Once that claim is processed by your insurance company, they will send you an “Explanation of Benefits” form that shows the billing details of the charge, including what your out of pocket expense will be. We will also receive the same information. If there is an out of pocket expense, we will send you a bill that matches what your explanation of benefits said from your insurance company.

The first step is to verify that your insurance company will cover the treatment. To do that, we just need a copy of your insurance card and a photo ID. We will call them to verify that they will cover the procedure. Once you are approved, we will contact you and schedule an exam by the medical staff in our clinic. You will be scheduled to receive the treatment soon thereafter.

You will receive a first treatment with Amniotic Membrane. We do these treatments on either Tuesdays or Fridays. The medical staff will provide post treatment instructions as well. There will be mandatory follow-up visits. This is when the medical staff will perform another examination, review how your wound is responding to the treatment and determine if you should receive additional applications, based on medical necessity.

We get out product from a lab called Regenative Labs.

Regenative Labs is first-class, state-of-the-art professional lab. They have spared no expense when it came to the technology that was necessary to produce the quality regenerative products they expect for their customers. They determine all the protocols, policies and decisions regarding the lab and the result is the best and safest human tissue products available.

Donors are thoroughly screened for risk factors and clinical evidence of relevant communicable diseases. A careful medical and social history is collected in advance to ensure the donor meets all eligibility requirements. These tissues undergo extensive and comprehensive medical, social, and blood testing before processing. Only tissue cleared after this stringent screening regimen is processed and retested under standards established by the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) and FDA requirements. Every precaution is taken to eliminate the potential risk of infectious diseases through comprehensive testing following the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (CLIA) and 42 CFR Part 493 and the FDA. Regenative Labs verifies each step of the manufacturing process to ensure the most stringent safety standards are met and maintained, from start to finish.