Acute traumatic diaphragmatic hernia. A report of 8 cases
Hua, H.S.; Wang, Z.G.
Chinese Medical Journal 99(6): 500-502
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0366-6999 PMID: 3100194 Document Number: 279619
Eight cases of acute traumatic diaphragmatic hernia (ATDH) were caused by penetrating injury in 2 and blunt trauma in 6. Among the latter group, 4 sustained pelvic fractures, 3 fractures of the lower extremities and only 2 had multiple rib fractures. This denotes that crush injury to the lower abdomen may lead to an abrupt increase of intraabdominal pressure and cause ATDH. We suggest that in patients with chest symptoms after extensive crush trauma below the umbilicus, ATDH should be highly suspected and that routine plain chest X-ray is indicated for ATDH diagnosis.