In this cohort of 18 patients with 20 nonhealing ulcers, six wounds were treated
with conventional therapy, six with maggot therapy, and eight with conventional therapy first,
then maggot therapy. Repeated measures ANOVA indicated no significant change in necrotic
tissue, except when factoring for treatment (F [1.7, 34] 5.27, P 0.013). During the first 14
days of conventional therapy, there was no significant debridement of necrotic tissue; during the
same period with maggot therapy, necrotic tissue decreased by an average of 4.1 cm2 (P0.02).
After 5 weeks of therapy, conventionally treated wounds were still covered with necrotic tissue
over 33% of their surface, whereas after only 4 weeks of therapy maggot-treated wounds were
completely debrided (P 0.001). Maggot therapy was also associated with hastened growth of
granulation tissue and greater wound healing rates.