Use of Maggots for Wound Care

Orthopaedic Surgery (2010), Volume 2, No. 3, 201–206

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Clinical research on the bio-debridement effect of maggot therapy for treatment of chronically infected lesions os4_87 201..206

Shou-yu Wang MD1, Jiang-ning Wang MD2, De-cheng Lv MD1, Yun-peng Diao PhD3, Zhen Zhang MD1
1

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, 3Department of Pharmacy, Dalian Medical University, and 2Institute of Reconstructive Surgery, Dalian University, Dalian, China

Objective: To evaluate the bio-debridement effect of maggot therapy for treating chronically infected lesions. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted of 25 patients with diabetic foot ulcers and 18 patients with pressure ulcers after spinal cord injury treated by maggot therapy or traditional dressing. Changes in the lesions were observed and bacterial cultures tested. Results: All ulcers healed completely. The times taken to achieve bacterial negativity, granulation and healing of lesions were all significantly shorter in the maggot therapy group than in the control group, both for diabetic foot ulcers (P < 0.05) and pressure ulcers (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Maggot therapy is a safe and effective method for treating chronically infected lesions. Key words: Debridement; Healing of lesions; Larva; Wound infection

Introduction
Chronically infected lesions are clinically common and troublesome to treat, especially in aged patients with systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus and paraplegia. They make a significant impact on the health care system because of the long-term care required and the associated cost. The therapeutic utilization of maggot for wound healing dates back to the beginning of civilization. This kind of therapy became popular and was often used around the world for chronic or infected lesions during the 1930s1. With the introduction and production of antibiotics in the 1940s however, academic and clinical interest was unfortunately lost. In the 1990s

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