The amnion or amniotic membrane is a protective sac. It is a gathering of tissue or cells applied to treat various ophthalmic injuries and conditions. The amniotic membrane is used especially on the eye’s surface during surgeries. At the same time open a new complete science focus with Amnion Transplant
In this way, the amnion is a foundation for growing soft tissues. It performs this as a biological dressing that also offers anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, and anti-immunogenic assistance to the area in which it is placed. The active cells in epithelial tissues of the amnion also aid in growth. The amnion is an effective piece when it comes to eye surgery.
According to a medical journal by the National Library of Medicine, amniotic membrane transplantation (AMT) has a long tradition in ophthalmic surgery. It has recently become very popular because of novel medical tissue preservation methods.
AMT has proven to be a dependable surgical method. This dependability has enabled it to gain ground in the ophthalmic area of medicine.
Processes Involved In Amniotic Membrane Transplant
As aforementioned, amniotic membrane transplant (AMT) is not a newly adopted medical procedure. Human placental membranes were first used as skin substitutes in the early 1900s. Then, in ophthalmology, it was first used to treat an ocular burn in 1940. The procedure became popular in the 1900s because it became easier to process and store.
To carry out an amniotic membrane transplant, the expert applies a piece of amniotic membrane on the eye’s surface. It is joined to the eye tissue using surgical stitches. The attachment of the amniotic membrane to the eye tissue can be done in two methods. These are the dressing and grafting methods.
The dressing method is used where the defect or injury occurs only in the epithelium but does not affect the stroma. The epithelium is the outer tissue or layer of the cornea or conjunctiva, while the stroma is the inner layer.
In this method, the amniotic membrane covers the eye surface fully. The growth factors in the amnion membrane begin to cause growth in the epithelial cells under the membrane. These factors cause a rapid healing process.
The amniotic membrane is removed after a few days of growth and healing. Depending on the severity of the eye condition being treated, the membrane could be left on the eye for between 2 to 15 days.
In the case where the stroma is also affected, the grafting method is used.
Case References
We see this method in the case of SOWERBUTTS v. HORIZON GLOBAL CORPORATION.
After sustaining an injury to the eye from a faulty tool, the plaintiff had to undergo two surgeries and AMT surgery for their eye.
For the procedure, the medical expert grafts the amniotic membrane into the space left by the stroma. The cells in the stroma do not grow under the membrane but on top of it. It is placed on top so the membrane is absorbed and replaced.
As seen from the process of AMT, one of the main uses of the procedure is to replace damaged eye tissue. Amniotic membrane transplant is also used to treat chemical burns, cornea, and conjunctiva ulcers.
Moreover, the grafting method of the AMT is a slower, gradual process. Depending on the severity of the eye condition, it could take months to absorb and heal. This method could also cause temporary loss of eyesight because of the membrane placed on the eye.
This effect of the grafting method is seen in the case of Quintana v. Secretary of Health and Human Services. For this, the petitioner had been suffering from an infection from the wrong medication from the healthcare practitioner. This has been going on for some time until amniotic membrane grafting was suggested and performed. Due to this, she became limited in carrying out many of her daily activities and hobbies.
Medical Risks Associated With Amnion Transplant
As previously discussed, the amniotic membrane to be used is from one person’s body to another. This transfer alone is enough to cause concern. As long as there is a movement of body parts from one person to another, there are bound to be complications arising from AMT.
The major risk of AMT is a microbial infection which can lead to inflammation and pain.
Meanwhile, there can also be risks from poor insertion or removal of the membrane by the ophthalmologist. This could lead to corneal abrasions. Likewise, there can be risks if the patient is intolerant to the procedure. The ophthalmologist can avert all these risks as long as they have done due diligence in testing the patient.
How Law Graphics Highlights Risks in Amnion Transplant
Errors that occur in the cause of an AMT are caused as a result of negligence or medical malpractice. Both of which are highly unacceptable. That is why every victim or family of the victim is well within their rights to file a lawsuit. They can seek to get redress for such a case.
Medical animation is the simplest and most accessible tool that an attorney could use in cases of medical errors. Not only is it reliable, but it also has the power to pass across information quite swiftly and coherently.
A legal practitioner who uses legal animation in presenting cases has the edge over their learned colleagues. It allows for easy comprehension of medical terminologies.
Legal animation also gives room for the jury members to get a complete picture of the event’s details. Thereby enabling them to come to a decision swiftly.
By doing this, the judge and jury can see the extent of damage the eye had undergone before the process began. This image will show the ophthalmologist’s swiftness in attending to the patient and how the lack of it has further aggravated the problem.
Also, with the help of an expert witness, the medical aspects of the case are displayed for all to see. These medical aspects include the type of eye condition or injury. It also encompasses how the amniotic membrane looks and how the procedure is carried out. Legal animation explains what went on in the surgery room and where the medical practitioner went wrong.
Through trial animations, the jury members could understand in detail how the transplant process was performed. The act of negligence or malpractice would also be made visual.
Conclusion
Legal animation is a great tool that can help the attorney cut through every point mentioned to the jury members. It will aid them in understanding the injustice that the victims have to live with for the rest of their lives.
At Fox-AE, we understand the severity of life-altering injuries. Hence, we contribute to creating demonstrative exhibits that will aid in getting deserved compensation for injuries.
Our team works closely with attorneys and expert witnesses to ensure we create admissible demonstrative exhibits.
