Maggot therapy, alginate dressing, and surgical sharp debridement: Unique path to save unresponsive diabetic foot ulcer

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Diabetic foot ulcers are a severe complication of diabetes mellitus, affecting a significant proportion of the diabetic population. In some cases, ulcer progression and infection can lead to the need for amputation. CASE PRESENTATION: An 84-year-old male with a history of poorly controlled type 2 DM and HTN presented with an infected DFU on the plantar aspect of his right foot. This case report illustrates the successful management of an 84-year-old patient with a DFU amputation candidate, emphasizing the effectiveness of a combined treatment approach. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Conventional treatment options, including antibiotic therapy, often fail to provide adequate healing in these high-risk patients. Alternative approaches, such as maggot therapy, which involves the application of sterile maggots to the wound bed, have shown promising results. CONCLUSION: This case highlights the potential therapeutic benefits and clinical efficacy of such a combined treatment approach, particularly in challenging cases with limited response to conventional therapies. Further studies and randomized trials may be warranted to support the incorporation of this therapy combination into clinical practice guidelines for DFU management.