Projects

Sea urchins, members of the echinoderm family, inhabit rocky seabeds, presenting various risks to humans, from simple penetrating wounds to more complex granulomatous processes and systemic complications.1 Out of the 700 known sea urchin species, ~80 are known to be toxic to humans. Notably, Echinothrix employs hollow spines to release venom, while Phormosoma’s envenomation is a result of spine integument rupture, and Asthenosoma and Araeosoma urchins have venomous organs at spine tips.2

This case series explores two instances of penetrating injuries caused by sea urchin spines, where the absence of inflammation posed a diagnostic challenge.