Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture

The experience with traumatic diaphragmatic hernia at the Johannesburg General Hospital between 1959 and 1973 is described. The mechanisms responsible for producing diaphragmatic rupture by blunt trauma, are discussed. The radiological diagnosis is discussed and the importance of artificially-induced pneumoperitoneum as a diagnostic aid is stressed. The thoracic approach is advocated in all cases, except for the acute case often associated with other intra-abdominal injuries. Traumatic diaphragmatic hernia is a fairly rare condition, the diagnosis of which is often missed at the original presentation. It is a fairly benign condition; death usually only occurs when it is associated with multiple severe injuries.S. Afr. Med. J. 48, 325 (1974