Although traumatic diaphragmatic ruptures are rare, it is a critical condition that can cause life-threatening complications. Traumatic diaphragmatic rupture may be discovered years after the presentation of the injury, with gastrointestinal or pulmonary symptoms due to a diaphragmatic hernia. Intestinal obstruction due to an isolated diaphragmatic rupture that emerges after a penetrating trauma is highly rare. The present study presents the case of a male patient who underwent laparotomy for intestinal obstruction due to a diaphragmatic hernia caused by a sharp object-induced injury to the thorax 1 year prior to his presentation. We believe that diaphragmatic ruptures are one of the reasons of mechanical intestinal obstruction and that they require urgent surgery.
Keywords: Diaphragmatic rupture; ileus; penetrating trauma