Surgical debridement and maggot debridement therapy (MDT) bring the light of hope to patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs): A case report.

INTRODUCTION AND

IMPORTANCE

Management of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), one of the complications of diabetes mellitus, can lead to death and amputation, and it is one of the most critical challenges for the patients and their families.

CASE PRESENTATION: The present case report concerns a 72-year-old man with a 5-year history of uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus. The patient had antibiotic-resistant DFUs on two phalanges of his left foot, which were completely gangrenous, and a superficial ulcer of 1 × 1 cm under his left foot. Despite the routine DFU care, the phalanges of his DFU were amputated. The patient was moved to our wound management team. DFU was treated and managed using surgical debridement and maggot debridement therapy. Ten sessions of Maggot Debridement Therapy (MDT) were conducted (one therapy session every 48 h). After three months, the patient's DFUs healed, and he was discharged from our service in good condition.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION: DFU can lead to infection, amputation, and even patient death. Therefore, effective treatment methods are very important for managing DFUs.

CONCLUSION

Using surgical debridement and MDT is a safe and effective approach to facilitate the healing of DFUs.