Fat injection tackles fistulas
Fat-busting injections have dominated the headlines in recent months but an innovative treatment at St Mark's Hospital is injecting fat into the body to help tackle a painful condition known as anal fistula.
Surgeon Phil Tozer says the injection could dramatically improve patient outcomes in conjunction with surgery to repair an abnormal tunnel or tube that can form between the gut and the skin causing patients great distress.
The technique was pioneered in Denmark by Lilli Lundby and colleagues who came to the UK to assist in the first procedures carried out by Mr Tozer, a colorectal surgeon at St Mark's National Bowel Hospital who specialises in inflammatory bowel disease surgery including complex fistulas.
Phil said: “The great thing is that we take fat from the patient's body which is, in effect, self-healing oneself for a fraction of the cost of stem cell therapy which costs tens of thousands of pounds
“At present, we have a 'therapeutic ceiling' of around 50% with fistula patients which we hope to break through with the help of this treatment or other biological augmentation of surgical repair."
The fat is injected around the fistula helping reduce inflammation as well helping heal the surgical repair to the fistula.
Phil added: “We're excited to see how much fat injection might help us improve outcomes in conjunction with surgery, especially with patients with Crohn's Disease who are 20% more likely to be troubled by fistulas.”