[Traumatic rupture of the diaphragm in combined trauma in childhood].

Blunt traumatic injuries to the diaphragm are comparatively rare and are always associated with other severe injuries to the chest, abdomen, head and extremities. In childhood they are exceptionally rare. No such complication in blunt abdominal and thoracic trauma has been observed at the Clinic of Pediatric Surgery of the "Pirogov" Emergency Hospital in Sofia for the last ten years. Experience is recorded with the treatment of traumatic rupture of the diaphragm in a six-year-old boy with severe combined trauma. Inference is made that during the operation existence of such injury, however rare, should be considered. Complete and thorough revision of the abdominal cavity and the retroperitoneal space is advised.