Therapeutic applications of the larvae for wound debridement

Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery : JPRAS
Arif TurkmenD A McGrouther

Abstract

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.

References

Oct 1, 1988·Annals of Plastic Surgery·M K ReamesE A Luce
Sep 1, 1986·Southern Medical Journal·E Chernin
Aug 1, 1997·Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery·R A Sherman

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Dec 24, 2013·International Journal of Pharmaceutics·Serban BertesteanuRaluca Grigore
Feb 9, 2011·Annals of Clinical Microbiology and Antimicrobials·Shuchi AroraChu Sing Lim
Jan 3, 2014·Asian Journal of Surgery·Chumpon WilasrusmeeAmmarin Thakkinstian
Mar 2, 2012·Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery : JPRAS·Queenie E ChanVladimir Milovic
May 18, 2016·Veterinary World·Vijayata ChoudharyJ J Hasnani
Nov 7, 2019·Journal of Clinical Medicine·Dariusz BazalińskiPaweł Więch

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Antifungals

An antifungal, also known as an antimycotic medication, is a pharmaceutical fungicide or fungistatic used to treat and prevent mycosis such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis, cryptococcal meningitis, and others. Discover the latest research on antifungals here.

Antifungals (ASM)

An antifungal, also known as an antimycotic medication, is a pharmaceutical fungicide or fungistatic used to treat and prevent mycosis such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis, cryptococcal meningitis, and others. Discover the latest research on antifungals here.