Many patients with gangrenous or non-healing wounds
have been treated successfully with

Maggot Therapy

At the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Long Beach, California, and at the University of California in Irvine, CA, we have treated patients with pressure ulcers ("bed sores"), diabetic foot wounds, venous stasis ulcers, and post-surgical wounds, since 1989.

A few of these patients have volunteered to be photographed for educational purposes. These photographs are presented here, in hopes that people with similar needs, or with an interest in the medical uses of maggots, might have a chance to "see" how the maggots have helped these patients.

WARNING!

Forgive the sometimes gruesome photos.

I think that you will agree with these patients that the thought of maggots, and the appearance of maggots is not as upsetting as the thought and the appearance and the smell of their own gangrenous flesh.

~ Case 1 ~

A 60 year-old man with diabetes and recurrent venous stasis ulcers was admitted to the hospital for worsening leg ulcers, dispite outpatient care and antibiotics.

Photo of
gangrenous venous stasis ulcers before maggot therapy

His gangrenous venous stasis ulcers can be seen here, before maggot therapy. At this time, he had already been hospitalized for 5 weeks, receiving intravenous antibiotics, and well as regular medical and surgical care. He has had no significant improvement.

Photo of same patient, with red healthy tissue where the
gangrene once was

Within less than 2 weeks, the dead tissue has been cleaned by the maggots, revelaing a healthy bed of red tissue, beneathe. This tissue will eventually give rise to skin, which will cover over the wound.

Photo of leg 3 months later, after healing

Photo of leg 3 months later; healing after maggot therapy has already completed. Skin has completely covered the wound, without the need for grafting. The pink scars will continue to resolve, and his leg will achieve normal color over the coming months.

~ Case 2 ~

A 70 year-old man with foot ulcers for over 3 years had been treated unsuccessfully by his internists, podiatrists, and orthopedic surgeons. He requested an evaluation for maggot therapy. Photo of ulcer
on the bottom of the foot

Photo of ulcer
on the bottom of the foot

Prior to maggot therapy, his ulcer was dirty, and was surrounded by thick callus. It was impossible to tell what was healthy skin, and what was not. Podiatrists and orthopedic surgeons had trimmed the wound, but the callous quickly recurred, and the doctors were afraid to debride (clean) the wound too vigorously, lest he end up with an even bigger wound, which still might not heal.

Photo of the
ulcer, now clean
Indeed, his underlying wound was more extensive than could be appreciated by looking at the surface. This fact was apparent one week after maggot therapy was initiated, because the maggot debridement removed all of the callus and dead, infected tissue. What was left was a big hole; but it was clean, healthy, well-vascularized, and able to heal itself.

Photo of the
same foot, almost completely covered with healthy skin
His wound is seen here, just about completely covered with healthy skin. To this day, 2 years after healing, his wound has not recurred.

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More information and case reports can be found by visiting the References section of our

Maggot Therapy Project Home Page

Originally created: January, 1996. Last edited: January, 2002