An unusual diaphragmatic injury: A case report

Abstract

The diaphragmatic injury is often associated with thoracoabdominal traumas and it is often located at the left diaphragm. A 23 years old man who had sharp penetrating trauma was admitted to emergency department. In his physical examination a 1.5 cm incision was seen on the left upper anterior chest. There was no associating pneumothorax, hemithorax or abdominal trauma. Unexpectedly, one day after the incident, a knife was recognized at left upper quadrant at a control chest X-ray. Laparotomy was performed and the knife was found located among left lobe of liver, spleen, stomach and colon. There was no injury at these organs. The diaphragm was repaired and patient was transferred to psychiatry clinic on the second post-operative day. Penetrating thoracoabdominal traumas can be concomitant with abdominal injuries, so the patient must be examined systematically and carefully.