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A case of delayed diagnosis of a right-sided diaphragm rupture with a review of the literature

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Abstract

Right-sided diaphragm rupture is one of the typical injuries found during a secondary or tertiary survey after a major blunt trauma. This is mainly due to the apparently normal aspect of primary X-rays of the thorax. A right-sided diaphragm rupture can cause severe atelectasis of the right lower lobe of the lung, due to a hepatothorax. We present a case of a delayed diagnosis of right-sided diaphragm rupture, which was discovered by accident because of a new trauma. We review the literature on right-sided diaphragm rupture and its treatment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Amphia Hospital, Surgery, Breda, The Netherlands

    Matthijs P. Somford, Hans K. S. Nuytinck & Dagmar I. Vos MD

  2. Amphia Hospital, Surgery, Molengracht 21, 4800 RK, Breda, The Netherlands

    Dagmar I. Vos MD

Authors
  1. Matthijs P. Somford
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  2. Hans K. S. Nuytinck
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  3. Dagmar I. Vos MD
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Correspondence to Dagmar I. Vos MD.

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Somford, M.P., Nuytinck, H.K.S. & Vos, D.I. A case of delayed diagnosis of a right-sided diaphragm rupture with a review of the literature. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg 35, 499–502 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-008-8124-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00068-008-8124-7

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