Use of maggot debridement therapy for tropical diabetic hand syndrome

Diabetic patients with infectious hand ulceration, known as tropical diabetic hand syndrome (TDHS), are generally less well recognised than those with foot ulcers. Maggot debridement therapy (MDT) is usually used for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers and, in these wounds, the remarkable wound cleansing properties can be of considerable value. However, it is less commonly used in TDHS. Here we present a case of TDHS in a 51-year-old man with type II diabetes, hypertension and dilated cardiomyopathy, in which conventional therapy had minimal effect, but significant wound debridement was achieved with MDT. This suggests that MDT may be a cost-effective alternative to conventional treatments for the debridement of TDHS.