[Ruptures and injuries to the diaphragm].

Injury to the diaphragm is a marker of severe trauma yet remains one of the most misdiagnosed traumatic lesions. The mechanism may be penetrating (stab or gunshot wounds) or blunt (high velocity injuries). Rupture of the diaphragm may be overlooked due to common associated injuries. Diagnosis is based on strong clinical suspicion and repeated chest x-rays. Current diagnostic tools include CT scan and minimally invasive surgical techniques (laparoscopy or thoracoscopy) in stable patients. These relatively new methods could provide more accurate diagnosis. The main feature of diaphragmatic injury is the incidence of late presentation with the possibility of life-threatening complications such as strangulations may even occur late.