Treatment of smoker’s leg with maggots
Maggots are ideal for treating open spots on the smoker’s leg. They can be applied directly on the skin defect. The maggots eat away the already dead tissue and leave the still living cells standing, thus cleaning the wound. At the same time they prevent colonization with bacteria and thus reduce dangerous infections. After treatment with maggots, the wound should be professionally dressed.
Prognosis for a smoker’s leg
The prognosis of the smoker’s leg is usually poor. Especially if the triggering factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, stress, unhealthy lifestyle etc. are not treated.
As a result, the vascular situation usually worsens, leading to a progression of the disease. In addition, it is usually not only the vascular status of the legs that is bad. The coronary arteries and other important arteries can also become clogged and thus cause life-threatening organ damage.
Amputation of the smoker’s leg may be necessary if the infection is too severe. Bacterial colonization, which can no longer be treated adequately with antibiotics, can spread to the entire body and develop into blood poisoning with life-threatening organ damage. As protection against this, an excessively infected smoker’s leg must be amputated.
Even if the tissue on the leg has died, this can be dangerous for the body because the dead cells still secrete substances that are toxic to the body. In consultation with the affected person, an amputation of, for example, toes or the foot can also be performed in this case. A smoker’s leg can improve if it is possible to stop smoking.
In this way, the disease is relieved of its greatest trigger. Within a few years, the body can rid itself of some of the stored toxins and thus improve the vascular status again. Those who achieve a healthier lifestyle overall and eliminate other risk factors through exercise and a healthy diet will further promote the improvement of the disease.
