Traumatic ruptured diaphragm: a clinical diagnostic dilemma

ABSTRACT

Sequel to a car crash; Chief A; a 52-year old bankerpresented in the Orthopaedic Unit of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu with fracture right forearm bones and minor bruises in the abdomen and buttocks. His fractured right forearm was treated surgically and patient was dischharged. A month later; Chief A developed breathlessness and was therefore re-admitted in same hospital where radiological survey including plain chest radiography and tailored barium meal revealed a hitherto clinically Occult rupture left hemi-diaphragm with mediastimal shift to the contra-lateral side. We present this case to highlight the pleomophism of traumatic rupture of diaphragm with emphasis on the causes; clinical presentation; complications and model of progression and different treatment options