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Updated: May 11, 2026
Application of Lucilia sericata Larvae in Debridement of Pressure Wounds in Outpatient Settings
Published on: December 4, 2021
[Effect of maggot therapy on minimally necrotic tissues: characterization of larval enzymatic excretion/secretion]
Germán Alberto Téllez1, Mónica Alejandra Acero, Luz Adriana Pineda
1Grupo de Inmunología Molecular, Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del Quindío.
Introduction:
Chronic leg ulcers are a burden for the health system and impact quality of life. The infections, the necrotic tissue and the difficult treatment affects the prognosis and healing time. Maggot therapy is presented as an acceptable alternative for the debridement and treatment of this pathology.
Objective:
The larval therapy was assessed on chronic leg ulcers with little necrotic tissue. Larval excretion and secretion (E/S) was characterized with respect to hemolymph (HL) enzymatic content. Materials and methods. Three patients with chronic leg ulcers and low necrotic tissue were treated with larval therapy and were assessed with the PUSH (pressure ulcer scale for healing) and Wound Bed Score. E/S and HL content was evaluated by SDS PAGE and zymogram.
Results:
The clinical aspect of the wounds showed improvement, and the scores demonstrated an average decrease of 2.3 for the PUSH and an average increase of 2.7 for the Wound Bed Score. A wide diversity of enzymatic activity in the E/S was demonstrated with major activity belonging to serine protease family.
Conclusions:
Maggot therapy proved an effective treatment in cases with minimal tissue necrosis and can be considered a viable treatment option.
