RESUMO
A description of the successful use of a fetal membrane in the recovery of a injured patient is presented. A diabetic female patient, 63 years old, was accidentally injured with a winnowing fork, which opened the skin of the front side of her left foot. For first two weeks, she was submitted to a treatment involving antibiotics, analgesics and antiinflammatories, but the infection did not disappear and the pain was almost unbearable. At the end of the third week, the injury underwent surgical washing with epidural blockage; suitable insulin dose and oral antidiabetics controlled the high-glucose concentration. However, due to the intensity of the pain, a risky epidural blockage was administered every four hours for 12 days. Finally, a radiosterilised human fetal membrane, which was collected at HCSAE and processed at ININ, was used as a biological wound dressing. Biological control of the tissue was performed at Facultad de Química de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (The Chemistry Faculty of the National Autonomous University of Mexico) (UNAM). As a result, the pain first diminished and then stopped. The healing process started in a few days and led to a complete recovery in 2 1/2 months. At present, the patient is in good condition, living a normal life.