Blunt rupture of the thoracic aorta and diaphragm: an unusual association.

The aim of this study was to report two cases of rupture of the right hemid iaphragm with intra-thoracic liver hernia, associated with a traumatic aort ic disruption. These two lesions followed traffic accidents, and were both treated separately. Both patients had a long-term favourable progression. A ssociation of these two lesions is particularly rare: fewer than 50 cases h ave been previously described in an extensive review of the literature. CT- scan seems to be particularly efficient in diagnosis, even if less efficien t than other more specific explorations. The order of surgical management i s guided by the physical examination, and especially by abdominal emergency . (C) 2001 Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.