[Missed traumatic diaphragmatic rupture--a legal insurance problem]

Even nowadays traumatic ruptures of the diaphragm cause diagnostic difficulties. Especially diaphragmatic ruptures of the so-called "late-type" are accompanied by uncharacteristic abdominal or cardio-respiratory complaints. These complaints depend on the type and the volume of the prolapsed organs. By hearing the classic previous history and symptoms the expert has to consider the diagnosis. Beside the previous history, the clinical evidents, the thoracic as well as the abdominal survey radiography, further informations can be given by Gastrointestinal passage with Gastrographin, by Colon contrast fluid enema and by abdominal CT. If there are no general contraindications, diaphragmatic ruptures have to be treated by surgery. There after patients are usually without complaints. Insurance-law-problems are unnecessarily created by "not identifying" fresh diaphragmatic ruptures and by "not considering" the possibility of "late-type" ruptures.