II. Background

  1. Sea Urchins are in Echinoderm family

III. Pathophysiology

  1. Sea Urchin has spines with toxin coating
  2. Spines break-off in skin and may be nidus of infection

IV. Symptoms

  1. Pain or burning at Trauma site
  2. Skin Discoloration or Tattooing
    1. Resolves within 48 hours if no retained spine in skin

V. Management

  1. Remove visible spines with forceps
  2. Retained spines: Historical method
    1. Hot wax applied to area and allowed to cool
      1. Wax should not be so hot to cause burns
    2. Remove wax with embedded spines
  3. Consider applying ammonia to dissolve retained spines
  4. Observe for signs of secondary infection

VI. References

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Related Studies

Ontology: Sea urchin (invertebrate) (C0036488)

Definition (MSH) Somewhat flattened, globular echinoderms, having thin, brittle shells of calcareous plates. They are useful models for studying FERTILIZATION and EMBRYO DEVELOPMENT.
Definition (CSP) body is spherical to flattened, without arms and enclosed in test of skeletal plates; test is pierced by podial pores and imperforate interambulacral plates.
Definition (CSP) somewhat flattened, globular echinoderms of the class Echinoidea, having thin, brittle shells of calcareous plates.
Concepts Eukaryote (T204)
MSH D012617
SnomedCT 400021002, 21884007
English Sea Urchins, Sea urchin, Echinoidea (organism), Class Echinoidea (organism), Class Echinoidea, Echinoidea, Sea urchin (invertebrate), Sea Urchin, Urchin, Sea, Echinoideas, Urchins, Sea, sea urchins, sea urchin, Sea urchin (organism), Phylum Echinodermata - class Echinoidea, Phylum echinodermata - class echinoidea, Sea urchins, Sea urchin, NOS
Spanish clase Echinoidea, erizo de mar, clase Echinoidea (organismo), Echinoidea (organismo), Echinoidea, erizo de mar (organismo), Equinoidea, Erizos de Mar
French Oursins, Echinoidea, Échinoïdes, Échinides
Swedish Sjöborre
Czech mořské ježovky
Finnish Merisiilit
Russian MORSKIE EZHI, МОРСКИЕ ЕЖИ
Japanese 不正形ウニ類, カシパンウニ, ウニ, ウニ類
Italian Echinoidei, Ricci di mare
Polish Jeżowce, Jeże morskie
Portuguese Equinoides, Echinoidea, Ouriços-do-Mar
Norwegian Sjøpinnsvin, Echinoidea, Sjøpiggsvin
German Seeigel, Echinoidea
Dutch Zee-egels, Echinoidea, Egel, zee-