Wound, Ostomy and Continence Nurses Society (WOCN) Practice Exam

What is larval therapy used for in wound management?

1. To reduce scar tissue formation

2. To promote faster healing of the skin

3. To debride wounds using maggots

4. To clean wounds with antiseptics

The correct answer is: To debride wounds using maggots

Larval therapy, also known as maggot debridement therapy, is specifically utilized in wound management for its ability to debride wounds using maggots. The therapeutic maggots, typically from the green bottle fly, have unique properties that make them effective in managing necrotic or non-healing wounds. When introduced to the wound, the maggots consume dead and infected tissue, which facilitates a clean wound environment. Their enzymatic secretions also promote wound healing by stimulating tissue regeneration, reducing the bacterial load, and accelerating the natural healing process of the wound. This targeted debridement is particularly beneficial in chronic and complex wounds where traditional methods might be less effective. While other choices mention important aspects of wound management, they do not capture the unique role of larvae in providing mechanical and biological debridement. For instance, while reducing scar tissue formation and promoting faster healing of the skin are important goals in wound therapy, they are not the primary functions of larval therapy. Similarly, cleaning wounds with antiseptics is a different approach and serves a separate purpose in wound care management.