[Diaphragmatic ruptures in children].

Although diaphragmatic rupture in children due to blunt trauma is a rare condition we have observed an increasing number of these cases during the last years. Four cases will be reported and compared to the literature. The majority of diaphragmatic ruptures occurred on the left side. One third of all patients, however, had a rupture of the right diaphragm. In contrast to adults rupture of the diaphragm in children is rarely associated with rib fractures. Frequently liver and spleen become injured and two thirds of the patients presented with prolapse of abdominal organs into the pleural cavity. The prognosis of isolated diaphragmatic rupture is good, usually, however, prognosis is limited by the severe injuries sustained by the initial trauma. Only in half of the cases diaphragmatic rupture was diagnosed initially.