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Maggot therapy/ larval debridement therapy

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Maggot therapy is a type of biotherapy that involves the use of live, disinfected maggots (larvae stage of flies) on a non-healing skin and soft tissues of human beings and animals. The purpose is to clean out the necrotic(dead) tissues within a wound. It is also called maggot debriment therapy(MDT).

Medical uses
Maggot therapy is applied for chronic ulcers and diabetic foot ulcers.
A Cochrane review of methods for debridement of venous leg ulcers found maggot therapy to be effective over other methods like use of drugs.

 How it works
Well disinfected maggots that are prepared in the labs are applied to a clean bandage then wrapped around a clean bandage. The bandage is then wrapped around the wound. The maggots will then feed on the dead tissues for two days during which the patient feels itchy and pain. The pain is suppressed by use of painkillers prescribed by the medic. After 2 days, the maggots have fed on the tissues and are ready to be removed. Their fatness is an indication of a work well done.

How maggots feed on the dead tissues
They derive nutrients through a method called extracorporeal digestion. This is the secretion of broad spectrum of proteolytic enzymes that liauefy the necrotic tissue and absorb the semi liquid product. The maggots will molt twice, increasing increasing in length from 1-2mm to 8-10mm and in girth due to ingestion on necrotic tissue.


Precautions

  • Should be only done by a qualified medic.
  • Correct number of maggots should be used.
  • Maggots must be disinfected.
  • All maggots should be removed from the wound when it's time.
  • Correct time frame for the stay of maggots in wound should be adhered to.
  • Usage is mostly limited to the anaemic who can't undergo surgery.
  • Not all wound types are good for this therapy. Wound must be moist with sufficient O₂.



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