'Maggot Therapy' To Avert Amputation - 'Yuck' But It Works'!!!

[Bobbieo]

Is anyone on DU knowledgeable about or has had treatment with “maggot therapy” to save a limb from amputation? I know this form of treatment has been around for centuries which is finally being accepted, here, in the U.S.

As editor of the blog, “Native Unity Digest” - http://nativeuntiy.blogspot.com - I want to alert my Native American people, who have an exceptionally high rate of diabetes, about a treatment program that can possibly save their ulcerated limbs from amputation.

Unfortunately, this information comes to late to help my sister-in-law in Alaska who had her leg amputated last summer.

[msongs]

1. maggots to clean wounds is thousands of years old therapy because

maggots only eat DEAD flesh, not the living part.

Msongs
www.msongs.com
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[Tace]

2. I Come Up With A Lot Of Stuff When I Google "Maggot Amputation"

Here's one:

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2004-07-07-leeches-maggots_x.htm

[otohara]

3. Gladiator - The Movie

Used the maggot therapy to save Russel Crowe

[Hoping4Change]

4. I heard recently on the news that some Canadian hospitals use it

to clean complicated wounds. It seems maggots which gently munch on dead skin are very effective.

[Hoping4Change]

5. Here's a Maggot Therapy Referral Page

http://www.ucihs.uci.edu/com/pathology/sherman/mdtists2.htm

[Tace]

6. For A Real Thrill, Google "Maggot Wound" And Click "Images"

All kinds of cool pictures of maggots in festering wounds!

[mike_c]

7. I know a bit about it and I know someone who was treated with it...

...to avoid amputation of part of her foot. It worked in her case, and has been used successfully for thousands of years. It's been said that flies saved more patients than surgeons during the civil war, for instance.

The fly larvae are asceptically reared and then put into the wound. They're changed every day or couple of days to avoid detritus accumulating in the wound. Once changed out they're disposed of, of course, not reused. As was said up thread, the larvae eat only dead flesh, so they keep it from going septic in place within the wound. They do an excellent job.

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

8. Only one drawback with the procedure

I understand it itches like crazy.

Other "barbaric" techniques that work:

-leeches
-"blood letting" (for dangerously high blood pressure)

[BrklynLiberal]

9. I saw this on the Science Channel and/or the Discovery Channel

a long time ago. It is used for burn victims, as well as diabetes victims. Anyone who has necrotic tissue that could result in amputation or death from its spread could benefit from this.

There is a thriving business in growing and selling "sterile" maggots to hospitals for this.

They also use leeches, and there is a thriving business in "sterile" leeches.

[Kingshakabobo]

19. Hmmm, maggot farmer? Maybe I'll do that instead of Alpacas. n/t

[JuniperLea]

10. I first heard of this while reading Johnny Got His Gun...

In Jr. High. Creepy, but it makes sense.

My grandmother had both legs amputated due to diabetes. I wish I'd known this practice was still going on about 10 years ago. I also wonder if leech therapy would have helped the circulation...


http://www.biopharm-leeches.com/

[BrklynLiberal]

13. Leeches are used. They emit an enzyme that inhitbits clotting, and

and are used medicinally.

[Triana]

11. Intro to maggot therapy (found by googling)

A good site with lots of info and yukky photos!

http://www.larve.com/copy_of_maggot_manual/

[Jigarotta]

12. if I'm ever in that situation...

I'll hold photos of the neocons and misadministration near the affected area. can't find bigger maggots than them.

[formercia]

16. They're not sterile

and full of sh*t.

[BlooInBloo]

14. LOL! I guess it's unanimous - Google is an excellent resource! LOLOL

[Avalux]

15. Maggots eat dead tissue.

They're introduced to a necrotizing wound, covered, and allowed to do their thing until all of the dead tissue is gone. It's truly amazing.

[Bobbieo]

17. I saw my good friend on local TV last night who underwent this procedure

This was the first "maggot therapy" treatment at our local hospital. She later told me the procedure lasted two days and she didn't feel a thing - no itching. She forget the bandage was there.

I'm so sorry the doctors in Alaska were not able to save my sister-in-law's leg. Maybe if they would have known about the treatment. OH well!!!But, she is still having problems a year later with the amputation.

Thanks all of you on DU for your imput on possibly the most important story I will write in my 40 plus years of journalism. I'm sure damn few doctors on Indian reservations are aware of this technique.

[Avalux]

18. I am so sorry about your sister-in-law.

I wish this therapy was more widespread because it's so effective and cheap. It's excellent for diabetics with foot ulcers, etc., also for skin infections (MRSA). The maggots are selective and won't touch healthy tissue - they get all the bad stuff. So much better than surgically debriding which unfortunately can't be as precise. :hi:

[Random_Australian]

21. Provided you have the right maggots. They're specially bred now.

[lindisfarne]

20. My great-grandfather had this done in the 1940s-50s; he would allow

them to amputate his leg.