J Korean Soc Traumatol.  2019 Dec;32(4):210-219. 10.20408/jti.2019.034.

Comparison of Penetrating and Blunt Traumatic Diaphragmatic Injuries

• Lee SS
• Hyun SY
• Yang HJ
• Lim YS
• Cho JS
• Woo JH

• KMID: 2470089
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.20408/jti.2019.034

Abstract

PURPOSE
Traumatic diaphragmatic injury (TDI) is no longer considered to be a rare condition in Korea. This study investigated differences in the prevalence of accompanying injuries and the prognosis in patients with traumatic diaphragmatic damage according to the mechanism of injury.
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with TDI who were seen at a regional emergency medical center from January 2000 to December 2018. Among severe trauma patients with traumatic diaphragmatic damage, adults older than 18 years of age with a known mechanism of injury were included in this study. Surgery performed within 6 hours after the injury was sustained was defined as emergency surgery. We assessed the survival rate and likelihood of respiratory compromise according to the mechanism of injury.
RESULTS
In total, 103 patients were analyzed. The patients were categorized according to whether they had experienced a penetrating injury or a blunt injury. Thirty-five patients had sustained a penetrating injury, and traffic accidents were the most common cause of blunt injuries. The location of the injury did not show a statistically significant difference between these groups. Severity of TDI was more common in the blunt injury group than in the penetrating injury group, and was also more likely in patients with respiratory compromise. However, sex, the extent of damage, and the initial Glasgow coma scale score had no significant relationship with severity.
CONCLUSIONS
Based on the findings of this study, TDI should be recognized and managed proactively in patients with blunt injury and/or respiratory compromise. Early recognition and implementation of an appropriate management strategy would improve patients' prognosis. Multi-center, prospective studies are needed in the future.

Keyword

Hernia, Diaphragmatic, Traumatic; Wounds, Penetrating; Wounds, Nonpenetrating; Prognosis

MeSH Terms

Accidents, Traffic
Adult
Emergencies
Glasgow Coma Scale
Hernia, Diaphragmatic, Traumatic
Humans
Korea
Medical Records
Prevalence
Prognosis
Prospective Studies
Retrospective Studies
Survival Rate
Wounds, Nonpenetrating
Wounds, Penetrating