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  • Title: The successful use of maggots in necrotizing fasciitis of the neck: a case report.
    Author: Preuss SF, Stenzel MJ, Esriti A.
    Journal: Head Neck; 2004 Aug; 26(8):747-50. PubMed ID: 15287043.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: The use of maggots to digest necrotic tissue as a form of wound debridement has a long history in medicine. Necrotizing fasciitis of the neck has a high mortality rate despite aggressive surgical and medical intervention. The use of maggots in this disease has been reported only once before. METHODS: We report the case of a 73-year-old woman, who underwent neck dissection and had necrotizing fasciitis of the neck develop shortly after. After initial surgical wound debridement, we used maggots as a biosurgical method for further debridement. A net containing 100 maggots (Biobag; BioMonde, Germany) was used. RESULTS: Daily wound dressing showed rapid improvement of the wound; 4 days after beginning treatment, the wound was free of necroses. CONCLUSION: In this case, we could avoid repeated surgical wound debridement with the use of sterile maggots. The frequently rapid progression of necrotizing fasciitis could be well controlled.
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