Living with bullet fragments in the body can have long-term medical consequences

Summary: When people survive being shot, they often live with bullet pieces left inside their bodies. Oronde McClain was shot at age 10 and still has 36 bullet fragments in his head. These leftover pieces can cause serious problems like chronic pain, depression, and even lead poisoning.

Many doctors don't warn patients about these hidden risks. For survivors, the bullet fragments are a constant, scary reminder of the trauma. Doctors are now pushing for better testing and education to help survivors deal with the physical and mental health effects of these hidden bullet pieces.

For more details, see rssapp-statnews-com at statnews.com/2026/05/21/retained-bullet-fragments-depression-lead-poisoning-trauma/ (opens in new tab)