Abstract

LOWER LIMB SAVED FROM AMPUTATION THROUGH HERBAL MEDICINE ALONG WITH HIRUDOTHERAPY

S. M. Arif Zaidi*

Abstract

Limb amputation is the only option in most of the cases of gangrenous wounds. A gangrenous wound of the lower legs is a relatively common condition amongst adults that causes pain and social distress. Although, many factors lead to gangrenous wounds but in order to ascertain the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment, an interdisciplinary approach to the systematic assessment of the patient may be helpful. The present study was conducted on a 78-year-old woman suffering from non-healing gangrenous wound (on the right foot) and facing the plan of amputation. The patient was having severe pain and foul smelling in the wound. The wound was full with numerous maggots. The patient was kept on Unani medicine besides hirudotherapy. Wound dressing was done with unripe papaya along with honey as it has a very good cleansing action to remove the slough from the wound. The therapy proved useful and wound was completely healed in three and half months.

Keywords: Non healing gangrenous ulcer, hirudotherapy, unripe papaya.