Traumatic Ruptured Diaphragm: A Frequently Missed or Delayed Diagnosis

Case AA 67-year-old woman presented to the emergency department with a report of nausea and vomiting and abdominal pain after eating. Upon questioning, she revealed that she fell 3 months earlier and sustained 2 broken ribs on the left side.1Case BA 69-year-old man presented to the emergency department with left upper quadrant abdominal pain and reported no bowel movement or passing of flatus for 5 days. Upon obtaining a history, he recalled that 8 months earlier he had fallen from 6 feet and fractured his 7th and 8th left ribs.2Both of these patients were ultimately diagnosed with a traumatic ruptured diaphragm with subsequent loops of bowel in the left thorax.