Spinal cord injury associated with blunt traumatic rupture of the diaphragm.
The incidence of spinal cord injury associated with blunt traumatic rupture of the diaphragm is extremely low and rarely mentioned in the numerous reports about rupture of the diaphragm. It is thought that more such cases can be found among the fatalities of aircraft accidents and presumably among the fatalities of road traffic accidents as the forces causing such injuries make it unlikely for the casualty to survive. The authors present six cases encountered at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, England, and at Sheba Medical Centre, Israel. Although the mortality of such cases, if the patient survives the original impact, is usually due to associated injuries, early diagnosis is essential as late complications increase the incidence of delayed mortality.
Jamous
M A
MA
National Spinal Injuries Centre, Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Aylesbury, Bucks.
Silver
J R
JR
Ohry
A
A
Zeilig
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000293:injuries*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009104:Multiple Trauma / Q000150:complications*; D012421:Rupture; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000150:complications; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*