Summary
It has been known for centuries that application of larvae is useful to heal certain
wounds by facilitating debridement of necrotic tissue. Their therapeutic use was popularised
in the beginning of the 19th century, but waned in the 1940s with the advent of antiseptic
wound management and antibiotics. In more recent years, larvae are once again in vogue
for management of difficult wounds.
The mechanism of wound debridement by larvae includes the complete wound by continuous
larval motion, secretion of proteolytic enzymes and antibacterial substances, effects
on epidermal growth factor and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and ingestion and digestion of
bacteria and necrotic tissue.
In our study, wound debridement was achieved satisfactorily in 29 of 34 patients (85%)
with chronic wounds. In the remaining five patients, failures occurred due to inadequate
sealing in two patients (6%), death of larvae in two patients (6%) and treatment intolerance
in one patient (3%).
Larval therapy should be considered as a therapeutic option in the management of certain
difficult wounds.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: January 09, 2009
Accepted:
August 12,
2008
Received:
April 9,
2008
Identification
Copyright
© 2008 British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
