Delayed Presentation Increases Complications After Catfish Spine Injuries

Catfish spine injuries are a frequent but under-recognized source of soft-tissue trauma, particularly in the Gulf South, where contact with native catfish species is common. These injuries carry risks of retained foreign bodies, venom-associated inflammation, and secondary infection from aquatic pathogens. Factors associated with complications and the microbiologic spectrum of infection remain poorly characterized.

We performed a retrospective case series of patients presenting with catfish-related injuries to a large Gulf South health system between January 2018 and December 2024. Demographics, injury characteristics, timing of presentation, interventions, complications, and wound culture results were collected. Complicated outcomes were defined as infection, need for surgical intervention, or prolonged follow-up. Univariate Poisson regression with log link was used to estimate risk ratios (RRs) for complications.

A total of 155 patients were included; 59 (38%) experienced a complicated clinical course. Delayed presentation was the only factor significantly associated with increased risk. Compared with presentation within 6 hours, presentation at 24 to 72 hours (RR 2.70, 95% CI 1.20-6.07, P = 0.015) and beyond 72 hours (RR 2.25, 95% CI 1.11-4.77, P = 0.028) significantly increased complication risk. No associations were observed for age, sex, body mass index, diabetes, liver disease, or injury location. Among 49 patients undergoing culture testing, 17 had positive cultures, most commonly Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Aeromonas species, Vibrio species, and 1 case of Mycobacterium marinum.

Delayed presentation significantly increases the risk of complications following catfish spine injuries. Early evaluation and empiric antimicrobial coverage targeting aquatic and skin flora may improve outcomes.