Blunt diaphragmatic rupture in children.

BACKGROUND

Although several series of blunt diaphragmatic rupture in adults have been published, this injury remains largely uncharacterized in the pediatric population.

METHODS

We queried our trauma registry for all children admitted with blunt diaphragmatic rupture over a 10-year period at a Level I pediatric trauma center.

RESULTS

Six children (aged 2-15 years; mean, 7 years) were identified with blunt diaphragmatic rupture (three right, two left, one bilateral), representing 0.4% of admissions. All of the children had associated injuries (4.5 per child), with a mean Injury Severity Score of 32. Four diaphragmatic injuries were identified during the initial evaluation. The two missed injuries were diagnosed at postinjury days 5 and 8. There were no deaths and all children were eventually discharged without sequelae.

CONCLUSION

Blunt diaphragmatic rupture occurs in children with a frequency and severity commensurate with that observed in adults. Our data suggest improved survival compared with adults with this injury.