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GEORGE A. GATES, MD; KARL L. HORN, MD; A. H. COBB, MD
San Antonio, Tex

Arch Otolaryngol. 1977;103(5):310-311.

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In Reply.—We note that while Dr Lewy's 1937 experience with the topical use of 2% urea in the treatment of fetid necrotic wounds is interesting, his conjecture that this would have been as effective as maggot therapy in our case is curious indeed, particularly when only 9 of his 17 patients so treated showed any measureable improvement. Urea is available in a variety of preparations for treatment of superficial wounds. It has also been recently used as an abortifacient.

Careful reading of our report will show that we recognized and properly cited the work of Robinson^1.2 and others in elucidating the multiple mechanisms underlying the effectiveness of maggots in wound debridement, an effectiveness which would appear to exceed that of simple compounds topically applied. The question of relative efficacy of urea maggots is moot. No data are available, and it is unlikely that further study will be undertaken. . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

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