Original Article

Applications of sterile larvae of Lucilia sericata for the treatment of chronic wounds

10.5455/gulhane.173024

  • Mehmet TANYÜKSEL
  • Özgür KORU
  • Remzi Engin ARAZ
  • Hatice Zeynep Güçlü KILBAŞ
  • Şenol YILDIZ
  • Rıdvan ALACA
  • Hakan AY
  • Kemal ŞİMŞEK
  • Cemil YILDIZ
  • Yüksel YURTTAŞ
  • Bahtiyar DEMİRALP
  • Mustafa DEVECİ
  • Bülent A. BEŞİRBELLİOĞLU

Received Date: 18.11.2014 Accepted Date: 23.11.2014 Gulhane Med J 2014;56(4):218-222

The objective of this study was to assess the efficacy of maggot therapy and to develop decontained maggot designs for the best use and effect. In this study, we could maintenance of Lucilia sericata colony and sterile maggots in the insectariums. Contained maggot designs would be developed for the best use and effect for maggot therapy. We have enrolled 25 patients with non-healing chronic wounds (23 diabetic foot wounds, 2 ischemic foot wounds,) various wound size (mean 11,9±11,8 cm2). The clinical state of the wounds documented before and after maggot therapy. Gram-positive cocci and Gram-negative bacilli were the most frequently isolated from patients with chronic wounds in pretreatment. Along with packet that contains the sterile larvae of the second stage (average mean number of applications 3,6±1,6 packet; average mean 16,2±8,6 days) hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) was applied to patients. As a result of treatment of 19 patients (76%) provided a complete wound debridement, on the other hand, a partial debridement was occurred in six patients (24%). As a result, application of maggot therapy as a "package" in the treatment of patients with chronic wounds is practical and effective.

Keywords: Lucilia sericata, chronic wounds, maggot therapy