Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 16, Issue 9 593-598, Copyright © 1997 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Blunt traumatic rupture of the diaphragm: sonographic diagnosis
H. H. Kim, Y. R. Shin, K. J. Kim, S. S. Hwang, H. K. Ha, J. Y. Byun, K. H. Choi and K. S. Shinn
Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Kangnam St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College, Seoul, Korea.
Ultrasonographic features of seven patients with diaphragmatic rupture due
to blunt trauma were analyzed. The ruptures occurred at the left
hemidiaphragm in four patients and at the right in three. Direct
ultrasonographic findings were as follows: disrupted diaphragm in four
patients; nonvisualized diaphragm in three patients; floating diaphragm in
two patients; and herniation of the liver or bowel loops through the
diaphragmatic defect in three patients. Indirect sonographic findings
included pleural effusion or subphrenic fluid collection in five patients
and splenic laceration in one. Although the number of patients was limited,
ultrasonography was very useful for the diagnosis of diaphragmatic rupture.
