This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal

Rarity or Overlooked Diagnosis?

Fredric Jarrett, MD; Louis C. Bernhardt, MD

Arch Surg. 1978;113(6):737-739.

Abstract
• Although more than 90% of diaphragmatic injuries are said to occur on the left side, we have recently managed six patients with right-sided diaphragmatic injuries. In four instances, the diaphragmatic injury was not discovered until laparotomy was undertaken for concomitant visceral injury. All patients who underwent operations had fractures and abdominal visceral injuries as well. This experience, plus the difficulty of establishing a diagnosis of injury to the right hemidiaphragm preoperatively, makes us suspect that the true incidence of right-sided diaphragmatic tears is higher than usually stated. A high diaphragmatic shadow, elevation of the inferior liver edge, and acute changes at the right lung base are among the roentgenographic findings associated with diaphragmatic tears.

(Arch Surg 113:737-739, 1978)

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin Hospitals (Dr Jarrett), and the Surgical Service, St Mary's Hospital Medical Center (Dr Bernhardt), Madison, Wis.

Footnotes
Accepted for publication Dec 20, 1977.

Reprint requests to University of Wisconsin Hospitals, 1300 University Ave, Madison, WI 53706 (Dr Jarrett).

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Traumatic Rupture of Diaphragm
Shah et al.
Ann. Thorac. Surg. 1995;60:1444-1449.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT