Presurgical maggot debridement of soft tissue wounds is associated with decreased rates of postoperative infection.

Postoperative complications were assessed for all patients who received presurgical maggot debridement therapy (MDT) and for a matched group of patients who did not. Ten wounds were debrided by maggots within 1-17 days prior to surgical closure. Debridement was effective in all cases, and there were no postoperative wound infections. Six (32%) of 19 wounds not treated presurgically with MDT developed postoperative wound infections (95% CI, 10%-54%; P<.05). Presurgical MDT was effective in preparing the wound bed for surgical closure, without increased risk of postsurgical wound infection.