Comparative Studies
In 2008, a scientific study published in the British Medical Journal compared the merits of maggot therapy and standard hydrogels to treat 270 British patients with leg ulcers from around the UK. Patients were treated with either maggots or hydrogel and their progress followed for up to a year.
The study revealed no significant differences in the time taken for the ulcer to heal, or in the patient's quality of life. Maggots were shown to be no more effective than hydrogel treatment at reducing the amount of bacteria present or in clearing MRSA. Although maggots were significantly more efficient at debridement of the wound, treatment with maggots was associated with more pain by patients. A separate study which compared the relative cost-effectiveness of maggot therapy with hydrogels estimated there was little to choose between the two therapies.
In a 2011 study of people with non-healing wounds, maggot therapy was more effective in debriding than conventional surgical wound-cleaning during the first week, but there was no significant added benefit by day 15. Surprisingly, wounds debrided by maggots showed significantly increased wound surface compared to surgically debridement "Moreover, the second week of treatment could be deleterious because a significant increase in wound surface area at day 15 in the MDT group was observed".
Read more about this topic: Maggot Therapy
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