Fragment Removal
If you are scheduled to have a fragment removed during an outpatient or surgical visit, talk with your VA health care provider ahead of time. They can request a fragment collection kit from the MEDU Surveillance Center and submit the fragment for testing. Testing the fragment to find out what it is made of can help identify potential health risks.
Terms and definitions
Creatinine — a normal waste product found in the urine.
Embedded — enclosed in the body.
Fragment — a piece of material that has broken off or detached.
Improvised explosive device — a device made from any material that can explode and cause harm.
Medical surveillance — following the health of individuals over time to look for health effects linked to an exposure.
Shrapnel — a piece of material that results from an explosion.
Registry — a database to collect health information on individuals sharing the same condition (like having an embedded fragment). When this information is taken together, it can answer questions about the health of that group
Toxic material — material that can cause harm.
Treatment guidelines — plan of action for providing care.
