title: The Boston marathon bombings: the early plastic surgery experience of one Boston hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  On April 15, 2013, at approximately 2:49 p.m. EDT, two improvised explosive devices detonated near the finish line of the 117th Boston Marathon. Patients were transported from the scene to several trauma centers, including the authors' institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plastic surgical assessment of patients began in the Emergency Department and then rapidly expanded as the scope of the incident became clear. Daily interdisciplinary meetings involving the acute care surgery, orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, and nursing services were convened in order to coordinate operating room schedules and treatment plans. An interdisciplinary weekly clinic continued until all patient goals had been reached.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-four patients were treated at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center within the first 24 hours of the Boston Marathon bombing. Seven were triaged directly to the operating room from the Emergency Department. The Division of Plastic Surgery was directly involved with the care of 11 patients, all of whom were treated surgically within 24 hours of the bombing. Patients were aged 23 to 50 years old. All 11 patients sustained lower extremity injuries with gross contamination. Four patients also sustained significant upper extremity trauma. Injuries included extremity amputations and fractures, soft-tissue loss, impaction of nails and other debris, burns, ocular injury, and ruptured tympanic membranes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Twenty-four patients received acute care at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center following the Boston Marathon bombing. Institution of dedicated interdisciplinary daily rounds, protected operating room block time, and joint follow-up clinic allowed for efficient early diagnosis and treatment of patients' injuries.
authors.affiliation: Boston, Mass.; and Tacoma, Wash. From the Division of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School; the Department of Surgery, Madigan Army Medical Center; and the Harvard Plastic Surgery Residency Training Program.
authors.forename: Peter S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Maj Edward
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Malin
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kirkham
authors.forename: Lydia A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Helliwell
authors.forename: Ahmed M S
authors.initials: AMS
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Adam M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tobias
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Upton
authors.forename: Bernard T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Samuel J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D054042:Bombs; D001900:Boston; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000293:injuries; D054527:Mass Casualty Incidents; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D013518:Surgery, Plastic; D014193:Trauma Centers; D014218:Triage; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult