BOSTON (AP) - Massachusetts General Hospital's chief of trauma surgery says doctors removed "a variety of sharp objects," including pellets and nails, from the wounds of victims of the Boston Marathon explosions.
Dr. George Velmahos said Tuesday that he believes the metal fragments came from the bomb and not from the environment. Investigators have refused to give any specifics about the makeup of the bombs.
Dr. Stephen Epstein of the emergency medicine department at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center says he saw an X-ray of one victim's leg that had "what appears to be small, uniform, round objects throughout it - similar in the appearance to BBs."
Massachusetts General treated 31 victims of the bombs. The hospital performed four amputations and at least two more patients have legs that are still at risk of amputation, Velmahos said.
At least eight hospitals treated more than 170 patients from the blast.
Boston Children's Hospital treated 10, including a pregnant woman who was transferred to Brigham and Women's Hospital. All but three of Boston Children's patients had been released by Tuesday morning. Two were in critical condition: A 9-year-old girl and 10-year-old boy with leg injuries. A 2-year-old boy with a head injury was in good condition.
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