Late diaphragmatic laceration detected as a result of spontaneous pneumothorax.

Injury to the right diaphragm is sometimes missed in the acute stage and is detected only when the rupture becomes more extensive, a diaphragmatic hernia develops, and dyspnea ensues. We report a case in which spontaneous right pneumothorax developed 46 months after blunt trauma due to a fall. Air had leaked into the right pleural cavity, passed through the injured right diaphragm, and entered the abdominal cavity; the patient presented with intraperitoneal emphysema.