[Chronic traumatic rupture of the diaphragm (author's transl)].

The rising number of traffic accidents increases the number of traumatic ruptures of the diaphragm. Often there are no characteristic symptoms or those of other injuries may dominate. Sometimes a long time elapses before signs of hernia appear. Therefore the mass X-ray screening of the population is very important to demonstrate such cases. Chest X-ray, barium meal and pneumoperitoneum are required to detect a late herniation. Prompt surgical repair will give patients the best chance of recovery, thus avoiding complications which greatly increase the mortality rate.