[Radiological and clinical aspects of diaphragmatic injuries (author's transl)]

In experience of generally increasing frequency of diaphragmatic injuries, nowadays mostly caused by blunt body traumata in traffic accidents, a review is made about diagnostic and morphologic aspects outlining syndromal relations of 70 cases treated from 1950 until 1980 in the Department of Surgery of the Bonn University. Diaphragmatic tears following indirect (closed) trauma are surely more often associated with a transposition of abdominal organs (73%) than those secondary to direct (penetrating) wounds with an amount to 23%. In typical associated injuries like multiple rib fractures (29%, in relation to blunt injuries even 42%) and pelvic fractures (24% resp. 35%) diaphragmatic damage has to be investigated for if there is any doubtful abdominal or cardiorespiratory symptom. Especially in less symptomatic intervals roentgenographic methods come to use predominantly.