Sudden Death Following Delayed Traumatic Diaphragmatic Herniation

Abstract

Blunt force trauma to the chest can often result in diaphragmatic tears. These tears can go months without being discovered, until a secondary injury or circumstance causes an organ to herniate through the diaphragm. Special care should be taken at autopsy to determine the mechanism of injury of any tears in the diaphragm as this may influence the cause and manner of death. We present a case of a 28-year-old man who suffered multiple injuries in a motor vehicle collision. Six months later he presented with a left diaphragmatic tear and gastric fundal herniation, and died eventually.