Traumatic diaphragmatic injury

Abstract

Traumatic diaphragmatic injury is a not uncommon accompaniment to blunt or penetrating trauma to the abdomen or thorax; it may present acutely with haemodynamic and respiratory compromise and be associated with significant injury to other organs or may not be diagnosed at the initial trauma at all and present later as a diaphragmatic hernia. This overview examines the incidence, pathophysiology and management of this condition.