Mechanisms of Maggot-Induced Wound Healing: What Do We Know, and Where Do We Go from Here?

Figure 3

Schematic representation of a clinical trial proposed to demonstrate the wound healing effects of maggot therapy. After a 2-week baseline data collection (AB), nonhealing wounds are randomized either to receive the surgical and medical standard of care (CD), standard (confinement) maggot therapy dressings (HI), or containment (bagged) maggot dressings (MN) for debridement. Maggot-debrided wounds would then receive either standard care for wound closure (IJ; NO) or maggot therapy (MDT maintenance debridement, KL or PQ) to evaluate the presence of maggot-stimulated wound closure. To optimize enrollment and retention, subjects randomized to standard care may cross over to maggot therapy if there has been no significant improvement after 12–24 weeks of therapy.