Maggot Therapy for Treatment of Osteomyelitis and Deep Wounds: An Old Remedy for an Actual Problem

Amputation‐Sparing Treatment by Nature: “Surgical” Maggots Revisited

“…During the last 3 years, we have used maggots as adjunct treatment for 11 patients (table 1). The range of underlying diseases in these patients (open osteomyelitis in 5 patients, gangrene in 2, and soft-tissue infection or Charcot's joint in 4) matches the indications mentioned in the sparse literature on the subject: for example, osteomyelitis [14], venous ulcers [15,16], and diabetic foot infection [6]. In one study, 12 patients with venous ulcers were randomized to receive either larval debridement therapy or treatment with a hydrogel dressing; this study showed the cost-effectiveness and efficacy of maggot therapy [16].…”

Treatment of Infected Wounds with Maggot Therapy after Replantation

“…In the 1990's, maggot therapy was re-introduced for treatment of intractable wounds. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] Sherman 16 compared maggot therapy with conventional therapy in the treatment of nonhealing ulcers in diabetic patients, and found that maggot therapy was associated with effective debridement of necrotic tissue, hastened the development of granulation tissue, and encouraged a greater wound healing rate. In another comparison study with 145 pressure ulcers, Sherman 7,16 also found that 80 percent of maggot-treated wounds were completely debrided, while only 48 percent of wounds were completely debrided with conventional therapy alone.…”

“…There have been many reports on the use of maggots in the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers, chronic venous leg ulcers, surgical wounds, burns, pressure sores, for gangrene, and for osteomyelitis in the last decade. [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15] In this article, we report the successful treatment with maggot therapy of a severe wound infection after arm replantation.…”

An Overview of Osteomyelitis With Reference to Treatment in Particular Maggot Debridement Therapy (Mdt)

“…They recommended maggot therapy in cases of the intractable gangrene and osteomyelitis, when treatment with antibiotics and surgical debridement failed. Galeano et al (2001) stated that the maggot therapy for treatment of osteomyelitis and deep wounds simple and inexpensive, effective and readily be used worldwide, particularly when the antibiotics were not available and/or ineffective and when surgery was impractical.…”