We have experienced 21 cases of traumatic diaphragm injury between October, 1989 and September, 1993.
Of these patients, 17 cases were caused by blunt trauma and 4 by penetrating injury. Among 17 blunt traumas, 10 cases developed at left side, 6 at right and 1 at central subpericardial diaphragm, and among penestrating injuries, 3 cases developed
at
right side and 1 at left.
Overall mortality rate was 21% and one due to blunt trauma was 29%.
Initial hypotension was a predisposing factor to presume future death.
When assosciated injuries involved 4 or more organs, mortality rate was high. (Korean J Thoracic Cardiovas Surg 1994; 27:148-52)
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