Clinical Practice and Cases in Emergency Medicine

Case Presentation: A 46-year-old woman presented to the emergency department after stepping on an object while playing in shallow seawater. Examination revealed a barbed foreign body protruding from the plantar aspect of the left foot. Plain radiography demonstrated that the retained stingray barb had fragmented into three pieces within the soft tissue. Because deeper extension was a concern, computed tomography was additionally obtained to better assess the depth and extent of penetration. The fragments were removed through staged incisions, and repeat radiography confirmed complete extraction. The wound was irrigated, a Penrose drain was placed, and levofloxacin was prescribed at discharge.

Discussion: Stingray injuries are among the most common marine vertebrate envenomations and should not be regarded as simple puncture wounds when retained foreign body is suspected. This case highlights that even when a stingray barb is externally obvious, internal fragmentation may alter procedural planning. Radiography can reveal retained fragments, and additional imaging may be useful when injury depth is uncertain.