[Diaphragmatic traumatic hernia]

Traumatic diaphragmatic hernias commonly occur after blunt and penetrating trauma. Due to coexisting injuries and the silent nature of the diaphragmatic injuries, the diagnosis is easily missed. We undertook this study to describe the clinical characteristics of consecutive patients with traumatic diaphragmatic hernias treated surgically at our institution.

We conducted a prospective cohort of patients treated during a 6-year period. We assessed variables such as age, gender, type of mechanism of trauma, type of hernia, methods of diagnosis, herniated organs and associated lesions, time of evolution, morbidity and mortality. Results are described as frequencies, dispersion and central tendency measures. Chi(2) and Fisher's exact tests were used to explore association and risks.

Twenty three patients were included, 19 men (82.6%) and 4 women (17.4%). Acute DTH were diagnosed in nine patients (39.1%) and 14 cases presented as chronic DTH (60.9%). In 18 cases (78.3%) the diagnosis was made by chest x-ray and most corresponded to chronic hernias. Medical history of blunt thoracoabominal trauma was present in 95.7% of the cases, most related to car accidents. The principal associated lesions were head injuries, rib fractures and lung contusion. morbidity was observed in six patients, all with chronic hernias. there was no mortality.

DTH is a rare clinical entity and constitutes a true challenge due to difficulties for a rapid and correct diagnosis. In the chronic stage there is an increased risk for late complications such as visceral strangulation and necrosis.