141 - Non-Snake Reptile Bites

alligator may be found in the southeastern United States, from North Carolina to Louisiana. The saltwater crocodile is found in Southeast Asia and Australia, with males reaching lengths of up to 23 feet (7 m). Victims of crocodilian attacks sustain trauma from a combination of penetrating, blunt, and sheer force. The saltwater crocodile can generate 2000 psi when it bites. The sheer magnitude of the jaw muscle force sustained with extensive penetrating injuries devitalizes large areas of tissue, thereby making such injuries slow to heal and susceptible to infection. Bites must be considered to be heavily contaminated with multiple bacteria, including Aeromonas hydrophila, Pseudomonas, and Proteus (Fig. 141.1).