Abstract
Introduction: Rupture of the diaphragm is an uncommon injury, seen in patients with multiple injury or poly-trauma. The aim of our study was to evaluate the incidence of this type of injury and it's influence on morbidity and mortality.
Material and methods: All patients from the University Hospital of Hradec Králové Traumacentre's database brought by ambulance and in whom a rupture diaphragm was diagnosed in a six-year period (1. 1. 2008 - 31. 12. 2013), were included in this study. Results: In the above mentioned period 3309 patients were brought by ambulance to the University Hospital of Hradec Králové and in 18 of them was rupture of the diaphragm diagnosed.
Blunt injury was clearly the leading trauma mechanism (n=14), the patients were most commonly stuck in a vehicle (n=9). 6 patients died in total (33 %). Conclusions: Diagnostics of diaphragm rupture is because of it's low incidence, still very challenging.
Despite of a negative primary CT-exam later manifestation cannot be excluded. Therefore it is inevitable, in case of sudden dyspnea or collapse and adequate trauma history to bear in mind the option of this rare injury.