Maggots aid wound healing faster than surgical debridement
24th April 2012
By Staff Writer
The prospective French trial compared the progress of 105 patients with non-healing leg wounds with slough in the base.
Half were debrided with a two-layered bag filled with 80 maggots. The outer layer touching the skin had a spongy membrane; a mesh inner layer kept the maggots from escaping. The other patients received surgical debridement.
By day eight slough had decreased significantly more in the patients treated with maggots (54.5% vs 66.5%).
By day 15 there was no advantage over conventional treatment leading the authors to recommend another type of dressing be used after two or