Amniotic Fluid Allograft Therapy

By Burton J. Katzen, DPM

Metro Foot Care Centers

. http://www.marylandfootdoctor.com

More Podiatry Foot Care Articles

Amniotic Fluid Allograft Therapy

A Cutting Age New Non-Surgical Treatment For Foot and Ankle Conditions

Amniotic fluid allograft is a breakthrough non-surgical treatment option that offers healing and pain relief without side effects and without the risk of surgery, general anesthesia, or prolonged recovery and downtime. They have been shown to be very effective in treating foot and ankle conditions and injuries including those to Achilles tendons, plantar fasciitis, arthritic joints, damaged cartilage and numerous other foot and ankle conditions

What Is Amniotic Fluid?

Amniotic fluid allograft is an all-natural regenerative medical treatment that is composed of 100% amniotic fluid. The fluid is rich in over 200 naturally occurring growth factors and can greatly aid in the healing of acute pain and injuries or stubborn chronic problems. The process of replacing or regenerating human cells or tissues damaged by age, disease, or trauma can be effective with amniotic fluid injections because they are rich in growth factors that boost the regenerative process.

How Does It Work?

Amniotic fluid allograft contains over 200 growth factors, collagen, protein, inflammation modulators known as cytokines, nutrients, and hyaluronic acid which plays an essential role in joint lubrication and is also found in healthy joint fluid and can actually promote new cartilage growth.

It has high anti-inflammatory properties, but contains no steroids with its multiple side effects. The injections rely on naturally occurring anti-inflammatory agents such as cytokines, which are small proteins released by cells that have a specific effect on the interactions between cell and communications between cell, or the behavior of cells. It has no threat of patient rejection

Safety and Controversy

Amniotic tissue products have been used therapeutically in health care for over 100 years. They have been regulated by the FDA since 2003 and are considered safe, virtually painless, and non-controversial compared to stem cell therapy. This is because amniotic fluid does not come from embryonic cells, blood cord donation, or by removing bone marrow to harvest stem cells necessary for stem cell therapy. The effects and results are similar to stem cell therapy, but there is no need to harvest stem cells from our patient’s body. Amniotic fluid is sterilized using gamma radiation to ensure maximum safety according to the strictest federal guidelines. It contains no umbilical cord blood or embryonic stem cells.

In addition, there is virtually no risk of patient rejection or allergic reactions. Side effects have been virtually eliminated because amniotic fluid does not contain any antigens, which are what alert your body to the presence of a foreign substance.

What Conditions Can Be Treated With Amniotic Fluid Injections?

• Achilles tendon injuries – acute or chronic
• Tendonitis, ligaments, and other soft tissue injuries
• Joint injuries and damaged cartilage
• Ankle pain
• Toe pain
• Bursitis
• Plantar fasciitiis
• Sports injuries
• Chronic pain relief
• Diabetic wounds
• Ankle arthritis
• Osteoarthritis

How Many Treatments Will Be Needed?

Most patients will see physical and experience relief within four weeks of an initial injection, and many patients will see significant improvement after a single treatment

Are Amniotic Fluid Injections Covered By Insurance?

Medicare recently announced that it will cover amniotic fluid injections and some private medical insurance companies will also provide coverage. We provide pre-approval services to all patients prior to treatment.