LEECHING LIFE BACK: A STUDY ON THE ROLE OF LEECH THERAPY IN REVIVING CONGESTED FLAPS

Leech therapy has a historical signicance in medicine. It is currently experiencing a resurgence as a valuable adjunct in plastic and reconstructive surgery to manage venous congestion in tissues. This study aimed to assess the efcacy of leech therapy for salvaging congested aps and replanted digits. Conducted over two years, the prospective study included 30 patients, primarily with lower-extremity aps and digital replantations. Medicinal leeches were applied for 3–7 days, facilitating venous drainage until angiogenesis restored vascular outow. A success rate of 63.33% was achieved, with complications in a few cases. Despite these challenges, leech therapy proved to be a practical, low-risk solution for venous congestion when surgical revision was not feasible. The ndings support its continued use in modern reconstructive practices.