Stingray injury

Edit links
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Stingray injury
Treatment of an injury in a life guard tower, with hot water
SpecialtyEmergency medicine
DeathsSteve Irwin

A stingray injury is caused by the

predator.[1][unreliable source?
]

Depending on the size of the stingray, humans are usually stung in the lower limb region.[2] Stings usually occur when swimmers or divers accidentally step on a stingray,[3] but a human is less likely to be stung by simply brushing against the stinger. Those who enter waters with large populations of stingrays are advised to slide their feet through the sand rather than taking normal steps, as the rays detect the vibrations in the sand and swim away.[4][5]

There are reports of stingers breaking off in wounds, but this may be rare.[

weasel words][6] This would not be fatal to the stingray as it will be regrown at a rate of about 1.25 to 2 centimetres (0.49 to 0.79 in) per month (though with significant variations depending on the size of the stingray and the exact species). [citation needed] Contact with the stinger causes local trauma (from the cut itself), pain, swelling, and muscle cramps from the venom, and possible later infection from bacteria[3] or fungi.[7]

Immediate injuries to humans include envenomation, punctures, severed arteries and veins, and rarely death.[8][9][10]

Fatal stings are very rare;[3] the most famous case is when Australian wildlife expert Steve Irwin died in 2006, which was only the second case recorded in Australia since 1945.[11] In Irwin's case, the stinger penetrated his thoracic wall, causing massive trauma.[12]

Signs and symptoms

Symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, extreme pain at the wound, muscle cramps, and a laceration at the puncture site. There have been cases of severe consequences which may include embedded spines, infection, hypotension, and even possible amputations or death.

anti-coagulant properties, as some have previously believed.[14]

Pathophysiology

A stingray's barb (ruler in mm).

The barb is covered with rows of flat spines, composed of vasodentin. Vasodentin is an incredibly strong cartilaginous material which can easily cut through flesh. The undersides of the spines contain two longitudinal grooves which run along the length of the spine and enclose venom-secreting cells. Both the venom-secreting tissues and vasodentin are enveloped in an epidermis that tears open when the barb is plunged into a victim. Some spines may break off as the barb exits the wound and stay within the victim, causing prolonged envenomation.[citation needed]

Treatment

Treatment for stings may include application of hot water, which has been shown to ease pain.[3][6] Multiple theories as to the mechanism of pain relief from hot water have been suggested. A theory that hot water denatures the stingray venom has been questioned because the temperatures required would need to penetrate deeply into the puncture wound and would likely cause thermal damage to surrounding tissue. Other proposed mechanisms include modulation of pain receptors in the nervous system through mechanism such as the gate control theory and the diffuse noxious inhibitory control theory.[15]

Antibiotics may be administered to prevent infection if there is a delay in treatment, if the wound is deep, or if there is a large amount of foreign material in the wound.[3]

Pain may be treated with

parenteral opiates such as intramuscular pethidine.[3] Local anesthetic may bring almost instant relief for several hours. Vinegar and papain are ineffective.[citation needed
]

See also

References

  1. ^ "About Stingrays". Caribbean Magazine. Archived from the original on 2007-10-08.
  2. ^ DuBois, David MD, MS, FAAEM, FACEP (2012). "Stingray Injury". WebMD. Retrieved 23 July 2012. People who step on a stingray most frequently are injured on their feet and lower legs.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^
    PMID 19319171
    .
  4. ^ Pacific, Aquarium of the. "Round Stingray (Round Ray)". www.aquariumofpacific.org. Retrieved 2018-08-19.
  5. ^ Company, Tampa Publishing (2013-06-07). "Do the stingray shuffle to avoid nasty stings". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2021-10-14.
  6. ^
    PMID 17630073
    .
  7. ^ "Stingray Injury Case Reports". Clinical Toxicology Resources. University of Adelaide. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
  8. OCLC 16986801. Archived from the original on 2010-04-16. Retrieved 2008-06-15.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link
    )
  9. ^ "Stingray Injury to the Webspace of the Foot | Orthopedics". Healio.com. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  10. PMID 15004123
    .
  11. ^ "I thought stingrays were harmless, so how did one manage to kill the "Crocodile Hunter?"". 11 September 2006.
  12. ^ Crocodile Hunter (2012-05-30). "Discovery Channel Mourns the Death of Steve Irwin". Animal.discovery.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-07. Retrieved 2014-03-10.
  13. PMID 19563821
    .
  14. PMID 18346243
    .
  15. PMID 16794088
    .
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Stingray_injury&oldid=1229271351"