On the complexity of shark bite wounds: From associated bacteria to trauma management and wound repair

Intraoral Radiographic Study of the Pulp Cavity of the Shortfin Mako Shark (Isurus Oxyrinchus)

The shortfin mako shark (Isurus oxyrinchus) is a large pelagic predator that inhabits coastal and ocean waters. It has several teeth arranged in rows that run from the rostral to the lingual face. These teeth are in several stages of maturation, where the teeth closest to the rostral face are more mature and functional and the teeth closest to the lingual face are still in development. The tooth supply of the shark is unlimited throughout its life. The mechanism of tooth replacement follows that, when the front teeth are discarded physiologically, the posterior teeth replace it. This study us used a head and dental arch of I. oxyrinchus. Intraoral radiographs were obtained with the aim to show details of the pulp cavity. The study concluded that the pulp diameter varies according to the stage of dental maturation.

Marine biological injuries and their medical management: A narrative review

The marine environment can be extremely dangerous, and the harm caused by marine organisms when they contact the human body can be especially harmful, even deadly. Contact includes stings, bites, wounds, and consumption as food. In this article, the characteristics of the common marine biological injuries are summarized, the major marine organisms causing damage in China’s marine waters are described, and injury prevention and treatment methods are discussed.

Keeping abreast of shark bite reconstruction: a case report and brief literature review

Shark attack-related injuries (SARIs) are rare but may result in highly complex wounds requiring reconstruction by plastic surgeons. Here, we present an unusual case of SARI of the breast and briefly review literature on reconstructive management of (1) breast injuries from other large animals and (2) SARIs to other parts of the body. Our patient was a 39-year-old woman who experienced massive bilateral breast tissue loss from a shark attack. After primary surgical wound management, including debridement and washout, the patient underwent completion mastectomy with bilateral deep inferior epigastric perforator flap breast reconstruction. Literature review revealed that reports of animal-related injuries to the breast are rare, with ours being the first on SARI to the breast and the only describing major reconstruction of animal-related breast injury. Literature on reconstruction of non-breast SARI wounds is limited to two case reports describing severe tissue damage akin to that seen in our patient, both necessitating extensive debridement followed by reconstruction. Overall, our findings demonstrate the uniquely devastating damage resulting from SARIs and the value of primary wound management and abdominally based free flaps in successfully reconstructing these wounds.

Level of evidence: Level V, therapeutic study.