Traumatic injuries and diseases of the diaphragm

: The article analyses experience in diagnosing the pathological condition and treating 125 patients with acute injury to the diaphragm (61 patients) and chronic traumatic diaphragmatic hernias (64 patients). The authors indicate the therapeutic and diagnostic means in this pathological emergency due to the acute trauma of the chest and abdomen or incarceration of the abdomen. The diagnostic errors and their consequences are analysed. Operation was conducted on 104 patients. In ruptures of the diaphragm in the zone of the esophageal hiatus the cardia was drawn downwards and fastened under the diaphragm; in cases of fractures of the bony framework of the chest with the formation of fragments, panel fixation of the costal fragments and the sternum was carried out by the authors' methods. The results of the surgical interventions are shown (18 patients--17.4% died) with emphasis on the character of the disorders and the lapse of time from the development of the emergency to the application of therapeutic aid.