TREATMENT OF REFRACTORY DIABETIC FOOT ULCER USING MAGGOT THERAPY AND SURGICAL DEBRIDEMENT: A CASE REPORT

Foot ulcers in diabetic patients are one of the common complications of diabetes mellitus that can lead to death and amputation. Managing these ulcers is one of the significant challenges for patients and their families. In this case study, according to the patient's physical and financial condition, a resistant diabetic foot ulcer was treated using maggot therapy.

This report relates to a 72-year-old man with a 5-year history of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. The patient had a 1 × 1 cm gangrenous diabetic foot ulcer on his left heel that was resistant to antibiotic treatment. Despite regular care, the diabetic foot ulcer did not heal. The patient was referred to our wound management team, and the diabetic foot ulcer was treated using surgical debridement and larval therapy. Ten sessions of maggot therapy were conducted (one therapeutic session every 48 hours). After three months, the patient's diabetic foot ulcer improved, and was discharged in a better condition.

Infectious diabetic foot ulcers cause activity impairment and decrease the quality of life of the patient due to resistance to treatment and poor healing. Therefore, effective treatment approaches are necessary for managing diabetic foot ulcers. This case report demonstrated that surgical debridement and maggot therapy are safe and effective approaches to healing diabetic foot ulcers.