title: Traumatic diaphragmatic injuries.
abstract: The anatomic distribution of diaphragmatic injuries varies. Over 95 percent of patients have a serious associated injury. A high index of suspicion and a routine chest x-ray are keys to the diagnosis. Diaphragmatic injuries may be divided into acute, latent and obstructive phases. Acute-phase mortality ranges from 11 to 37 percent, while obstructive-phase mortality is 30 to 66 percent. Early surgical repair of a diaphragmatic injury is required, regardless of the phase in which the defect is discovered.
mesh_terms: D003964:Diaphragm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery; D006549:Hernia, Diaphragmatic, Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007049:Iatrogenic Disease; D011859:Radiography; D012421:Rupture; D013997:Time Factors; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000150:complications*