Sea Urchin Granuloma of the Hands: A Case Report

Penetrating wounds from sea urchin spines are marine injuries that may cause morbidity in humans. Seasonal fishing for abalone in Dhofar is associated with an increase in the number of these injuries, as divers may strike their extremities, especially the dorsum of hands and fingers, on the rocks where Echinoderms and juvenile abalone (Haliotis mariae) are anchored. The immediate effect of injuries includes pain, edema, bleeding, erythema, and rarely systemic complications. There can be a delayed effect in the form of chronic granulomatous skin disease, which is a slow developing reaction to retained spine fragments in the wound that may take several months to develop. We report a case of sea urchin granulomas in a 45-year-old male who injured his hands by the spines of sea urchin while harvesting Haliotis mariae. Clinical manifestations, histological patterns, and treatment modalities are discussed here, to enhance the knowledge about these injuries and the available therapies.