They debride
Larvae release digestive enzymes onto the wound that liquefy dead tissue, then absorb the result. This is sometimes called extracorporeal digestion.
They disinfect
Larval secretions have broad antibacterial activity. In a randomised trial of 90 patients, bacterial counts fell after larval treatment, and lab studies show effects against biofilm.
They support healing
Larval secretions have been shown to encourage fibroblast growth, and the clean wound bed that remains lets granulation tissue form.
Watch a treatment cycle
Drag the slider to move through a 72-hour cycle. This is a simplified illustration, not a clinical simulation.
Larvae applied
A treatment, step by step
The exact routine is set by the treating clinician. The general sequence looks like this.
Assess the wound
A clinician confirms the wound has dead tissue to clear, checks for infection and decides whether larval therapy is suitable.
Protect the surrounding skin
A protective layer goes around the wound edge so the dressing sticks and healthy skin stays intact.
Apply the larvae
Larvae are placed directly on the wound at about 5 to 10 per cm² of wound surface.
Confine them with a cage dressing
A breathable net-style dressing lets air in and liquefied tissue drain out while keeping the larvae inside. A nurse keeps it moist and checks it regularly.
Remove after 48 to 72 hours
Full larvae naturally move to leave the wound. Any that remain are rinsed out with saline or wiped away with moist gauze, then disposed of safely.
Reassess and repeat if needed
Most wounds need two to six cycles to clear. Because larvae are used once, a fresh batch is applied for each cycle.
What the evidence says
Maggot debridement therapy is an established method with decades of clinical use. Trials and reviews consistently find that it clears dead tissue faster than conventional dressings and lowers bacterial load.
Evidence that it shortens total healing time is less consistent, which is why it is used as one part of a wider wound plan that also includes offloading, compression, blood sugar control and good nutrition where relevant.
A few landmarks
- Military surgeons noticed wounds with maggots healing cleaner long before modern medicine.
- In the 1990s a sterile lab at a US veterans hospital brought the method back into modern practice.
- In 2004 the US FDA cleared medical maggots as a prescription device.
- A 2025 meta-analysis of randomised trials continues to examine its effectiveness.
See the source list for reading.
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