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Shark-Related Injuries in the United States: A National Trauma Data Bank Analysis
William Ganske1, Rohit Sharma2, Stephen Kaminski2
1Surgery, 22854Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.
The American Surgeon
|June 15, 2021
Summary
Shark-related injuries (SRIs) are rare but can cause severe trauma, often requiring extensive surgical intervention and hospitalization. All patients in this study survived, highlighting the need for specialized trauma care.
Area of Science:
- Trauma surgery
- Emergency medicine
- Marine biology
Background:
- Shark-related injuries (SRIs) are infrequent but severe incidents.
- Limited data exists on the characteristics and outcomes of SRIs in US trauma centers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the incidence, injury patterns, and outcomes of shark-related injuries.
- To describe the management and treatment of patients with SRIs in US trauma centers.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the National Trauma Data Bank (2015-2018) to identify SRIs.
- Employed ICD-10 e-codes (W56.41XA, W56.42XA, W56.49XA) for case identification.
- Conducted descriptive analyses of patient demographics, injuries, hospital course, procedures, and outcomes.
Main Results:
- Identified 53 patients with SRIs; median age 29, median Injury Severity Score 5.
- Most patients (96%) were hospitalized (median LOS 4 days), 53% required ICU admission.
- Common injuries included extremities (47% lower, 40% upper), with 83% needing surgery; 11% required amputation. All patients survived.
Conclusions:
- SRIs, though rare, often result in severe injuries requiring significant surgical intervention.
- Patients with SRIs benefit from prompt transfer to trauma centers equipped for comprehensive care.
- Despite severity, all identified patients survived to discharge.
