[Secondary traumatic diaphragmatic hernia with incarceration--a diagnostic problem].

In this paper we discuss the case of a 64-year-old patient suffering from a traumatic rupture of the diaphragm with delayed manifestation three years after the trauma. The subsequent diagnostic errors gave rise to a discussion of the value of the physical examination, imaging methods and invasive diagnostic methods, particularly laparoscopy and thoracoscopy in the acute and delayed diagnosis of diaphragmatic injuries.