In a patient hospitalised following a motor vehicle accident,
a) What findings on patient assessment would suggest the presence of traumatic diaphragmatic rupture?
b) Briefly outline the abnormal findings you would seek on rectal examination and their clinical significance if the patient was unconscious.
Diaphragm rupture;
a) Frequently no direct symptoms or signs referable
b) Shoulder pain
c) Left >> right, usually associated with other injuries
d) Intrathoracic bowel
e) Obscured diaphragm shadow on CXR
f)_If delayed presentation – post prandial epigastric or thoracic pain
g) Rarely gastric herniation or volvulus
Rectal examination:
a. Absent anal tone - cord lesion (unless relaxants administered)
b. Palpable sphincter rupture
c. Displaced (high riding) prostate – ruptured urethra
d. High tenderness in anterior quadrants – ruptured viscus e. Pelvic haematoma – pelvic fracture
f. Palpable bony disruption – sacro-coccygeal / pelvic fracture
g. Visible external lacerations / bleeding.
Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture is usually pretty obscure.
Radiological findings are usually all the findings you get. The CXR is usually diagnostic.
However, one can occasionally unearth some of the following (non-specific) clinical features:
As for the rectal examination; one looks for
According to a recent review, the PR changed management in 1.2% of observed cases.
LITFL have some choice words about this investigation.
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Simpson, J., et al. "Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture: associated injuries and outcome." Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England 82.2 (2000): 97.
Porter, John M., and Caesar M. Ursic. "Digital rectal examination for trauma: does every patient need one?." The American surgeon 67.5 (2001): 438-441.