Flesh-eating maggots put on the gaping wound is probably not a good idea at all, but the animal thoroughly clean the wound much faster than normal treatments, although it did not lead to faster healing.
The results of controlled clinical trials for first in the world regarding the use of maggots as a cure last week showed for some patients, therapy was also more painful.
According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, it sounds terrible idea, because the maggots have a long history in medicine.
Napoleon's battle surgeon is very interested in the grubs, and the animal is utilized during the American Civil War and in the trenches in World War I.
Most recently, medical experts again have turned to the healing ability of the small animals, including their potential to prevent dangerous infections as "methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus ausreus (MRSA)"
To learn more, researchers at the University of York, England, recruited 267 patients with ulcers associated with veins on the legs and treat them by using maggots or "hydrogel", wound cleaning product standard.
They do not see significant differences in outcome or costs.
"It did not seem feasible to continue research in this particular patient group, if what you want to go is a faster recovery," said researcher Nicky Cullum in a telephone interview.
Maggots may have some benefit in some specific areas, such as preparing patients for surgery skin removal, cleaning the wound more quickly means patients can be transferred to the operating room more quickly as well. However, the affirmation of how it will require further clinical studies.
Using maggot therapy worked because the maggots only eat dead and decaying tissue, so the wound became clean. Animals that did not dig deep into the healthy flesh, and chose to prey on one another when they run out of food.
