Placenta used to treat diabetic sores in Columbus

Delbra Sims has been living as a diabetic for three decades.

 “I’ve lost several toes in the interim.”

Her son Elias, is diabetic too. He knows how a small wound can become destructive.

“It all started with she had an ulcer on her big toe it really does take a long time for a diabetic’s body to heal and you always have to be cautious and keep the area clean and as much as we did do that unfortunately she still lost that toe,” says Elias Sims.

Two years ago Dr. Alap Shah of Foot and Ankle of West Georgia began a clinical trial here in Columbus to study whether placenta tissue could be used to heal diabetic wounds. Once a woman gives birth, and the placenta is deemed normal, it’s usually thrown away. But in Atlanta women who’ve had cesarean sections are signing up to donate their placenta for diabetic research. Mimedx, an Atlanta area company has developed a process to sterilize the tissue. The resulting product is Epifix, processed from the amniotic membrane, or amnion, the innermost layer of the placenta.

 “Neonatal or baby tissue is probably the healthiest tissue alive and kids when they get injuries they heal quick because their tissue is so abundant in collagen and that’s why we’re using this material to put on the sores.”

Here’s how it works. Epifix is applied to the open sore. The wound is then dressed.

  “And then you leave it alone for a week and in that week’s time the body actually absorbs it and it uses it as a scaffolding to allow your own body to grow onto there,” says Dr. Shah.

This is an image of the wound as it continues to heal after applying Epifix. Dr. Shah says this method alleviates the need to graft skin from other parts of the patient’s body, leaving them with two wounds. So far 40 to 50 patients have had the treatment. Dr. Shah says nine out of ten have had positive results. Some patients may have to repeat the process. Epifix is not for every diabetic with a wound. Those whose wounds have become infected and those who do not maintain a healthy blood sugar levels are not candidates for Epifix. The product has a five year shelf life.

Meanwhile, the Sims family welcomes any new technology to help heal diabetic wounds.

“These patients are tired of their wounds, they’ve had them for a long time, they know they can lose their leg or their foot, they’re willing to try to heal it up as quick as possible.”

This type tissue is used in eye and spinal surgery as well.

Wound care specialists and podiatrists are invited to a conference on November 17. Dr. Shah will share his research with the group. If you are a health care professional and you’d like more information about the conference you can call 706-570-2588.  Dr. Shah serves on the Medical Advisory Board for Mimedx.

 

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