II. Background
- Sea Urchins are in Echinoderm family
III. Pathophysiology
- Sea Urchin has spines with toxin coating
- Spines break-off in skin and may be nidus of infection
IV. Symptoms
- Pain or burning at Trauma site
-
Skin Discoloration or Tattooing
- Resolves within 48 hours if no retained spine in skin
V. Management
- Remove visible spines with forceps
- Retained spines: Historical method
- Hot wax applied to area and allowed to cool
- Wax should not be so hot to cause burns
- Remove wax with embedded spines
- Hot wax applied to area and allowed to cool
- Consider applying ammonia to dissolve retained spines
- Observe for signs of secondary infection
VI. References
- Habif (1996) Dermatology, p. 491
- Perkins (2004) Am Fam Physician 69(4): 885-90 [PubMed]