Delayed presentation of traumatic diaphragmatic hernia.

Nine cases of delayed presentation of diaphragmatic hernia secondary to blunt trauma are presented. The delay in presentation varied from one to 16 years from the time of the original injury. The chest radiography was abnormal in all cases. In some, herniation could be reasonably inferred but in others there were only non-specific signs. Once the diagnosis of delayed presentation of traumatic diaphragmatic hernia is suspected, we have found barium studies to be the most useful confirmatory investigations.