Amniotic Skin Grafts

If you have a nonhealing wound due to diabetic neuropathy or another cause, expert wound care is critical in preventing amputation. Amniotic skin grafts, an innovative new procedure available at Susz Podiatry & Wound Care through board-certified podiatrist John Susz DPM, FACFAS, offers incredible healing power using natural biological substances.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are amniotic skin grafts?

Amniotic skin grafts are skin replacements that come from the amniotic membrane, which is part of the placenta that pregnant women deliver when they give birth. The amniotic membrane covers the placenta surrounding the baby before birth. It has a rich supply of growth factors, cytokines, and matrix proteins that all stimulate wound healing and recovery.

While the human body has all these substances naturally, supply drops sharply as you age. Amniotic membrane grafts can flood your wound with an enormous supply of these natural biological substances and bring on wound healing even in stubborn nonhealing and slow-healing wounds.

Where do amniotic skin grafts come from?

Amniotic skin grafts are obtained from birthing mothers who deliver their babies by scheduled Cesarean section. All donated placentas are thoroughly screened and carefully processed using the highest safety standards before they’re used to produce amniotic skin grafts.

When might I need amniotic skin grafts?

Amniotic skin grafts are a leading-edge treatment approach typically reserved for situations where conservative care isn’t successful at wound healing. Some typical conservative methods of wound healing include:

Wound cleansing and dressing
Debridement: removal of dead tissue to stimulate healing
Orthotics to relieve pressure and protect your healing wound
Antibiotics to fight infections

There are other methods of wound healing as well. If these or other more conservative care fails or you have a serious wound, amniotic skin grafts may be the best way to give your body the extra healing power it needs. You may need amniotic skin grafts alongside other methods of wound healing. With amniotic skin grafts, you may be able to heal even a deep and severe wound. This can ultimately prevent you from losing more tissue or even resorting to foot or leg amputation later.

There are several causes of severe nonhealing wounds, but diabetic nerve and blood vessel damage are one of the most common. People with diabetes have about a 25% chance of having a nonhealing wound at some point in their lives. Good diabetic foot care, including expert wound care as soon as you notice a new cut, blister, callus, or puncture, is key in preventing nonhealing wounds.