Article Text

Download PDFPDF
Phrenic nerve injury following blunt trauma
  1. David Bell,
  2. Ajith Siriwardena
  1. University Department of Surgery, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh
  1. Correspondence to: Mr Siriwardena, Department of Surgery, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester M13 9WL (ajith{at}mri3.cmht.nwest.nhs.uk)

Abstract

Phrenic nerve trauma in the absence of direct injury is unusual and may present diagnostic difficulty. Diaphragmatic paralysis resulting from phrenic nerve injury may closely mimic diaphragmatic rupture. This case highlights the value of magnetic resonance imaging in establishing diaphragmatic integrity and of ultrasonographic assessment during respiratory excursion in confirming diaphragmatic paralysis. In cases of non-contact injury involving torsional injury to the neck, an index of clinical awareness may help to establish the diagnosis of phrenic nerve trauma.

  • phrenic nerve injury
  • blunt trauma

Statistics from Altmetric.com

Request Permissions

If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

Footnotes

  • Funding: none.

  • Conflicts of interest: none.