CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini podiatrist performs an innovative procedure using fish skin

April is National Foot Health Awareness Month and CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini is proud to announce the successful use of fish skin to help save a patient’s foot in an innovative procedure. Dr. Joey Karim Ead, podiatric surgeon with CHRISTUS St. Frances Cabrini Health System, is the first to utilize this wound care technique in the Alexandria region.

Ead performed this procedure on 80-year-old carpenter Duane Lathrop, who sustained a foot injury last April. His injury quickly progressed into an infection, threatening both his limb and independence.

“Limb salvaging isn’t just about saving a foot or arm, it’s about preserving a patient’s independence, dignity and quality of life,” Ead said. “Every patient is different. My role is to find the right solution at the right time.”

The advanced treatment technique utilizes cod fish as a biological skin substitute, promoting tissue regeneration by closely mimicking the structure and composition of human skin. Lathrop underwent the procedure and experienced exceptional results, with complete healing in just six months.

“I was prepared to accept the consequences of losing my limb,” Lathrop said. “I’m grateful Dr. Ead was able to save it.”

He is now walking again and has regained his independence.

“Watching Mr. Lathrop walk again on his own two feet, rather than rely on a prosthesis, that’s the kind of moment that reminds you why we do this work,” Ead said. “That’s what success looks like.”

Ead recently earned second place out of 85 entries in the Aurora Awards, an internal competition highlighting complex, high-impact cases across medical specialties nationwide. He is the only podiatrist within CHRISTUS Health to receive this recognition.

He continues to use this advanced treatment when clinically appropriate, preserving numerous limbs. He emphasizes successful outcomes in limb salvage require a multidisciplinary approach, involving collaboration among podiatry, interventional vascular specialists, infectious disease and would care specialists.

“When we bring our disciplines together, we can change the course of a patient’s life,” he said.