Transdiaphragmatic Intercostal Hernia Research Articles

Costal margin injuries and trans-diaphragmatic intercostal hernia: Presentation, management and outcomes according to the Sheffield classification.

Costal margin rupture (CMR) injuries are under-diagnosed and inconsistently managed, while carrying significant symptomatic burden. We hypothesized that the Sheffield Classification system of CMR injuries would relate to injury patterns and management options. Data were collected prospectively between 2006 and 2023 at a major trauma center in the United Kingdom. Computed tomography scans were interrogated and injuries were categorized according to the Sheffield Classification. Clinical, radiologic, management and outcome variables were assessed. Fifty-four patients were included in the study. Intercostal hernia (IH) was present in 30 patients and associated with delayed presentation ( p = 0.004), expulsive mechanism of injury (i.e. such as occurs with coughing, sneezing, or retching), higher body mass index ( p < 0.001), and surgical management ( p = 0.02). There was a bimodal distribution of the level of the costal margin rupture, with IH Present and expulsive mechanism injuries occurring predominantly at the ninth costal cartilage, and IH Absent cases and other mechanisms at the seventh costal cartilage ( p < 0.001). There were correlations between the costal cartilage being thin at the site of the CMR and the presence of IH and expulsive etiology ( p < 0.001). Management was conservative in 23 and surgical in 31 cases. Extrathoracic mesh IH repairs were performed in 3, Double Layer Mesh Repairs in 8, Suture IH repairs in 5, CMR plating in 8, CMR sutures in 2, and associated Surgical Stabilization of Rib Fractures in 11 patients. There was one postoperative death. There were seven repeat surgical procedures in five patients. The Sheffield Classification is associated statistically with presentation, related chest wall injury patterns, and type of definitive management. Further collaborative data collection is required to determine the optimal management strategies. Therapeutic/Care Management; Level III.

Transdiaphragmatic Intercostal Hernia Repair in a Patient with Previous Thoracic Surgery

A transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia (TDIH) describes the herniation of abdominal contents through diaphragm and chest wall defects. It has been documented following traumatic injuries as well as after episodes of increased thoracoabdominal pressure. However, those resulting from iatrogenic cause remain uncommon and are less often recorded. We report an iatrogenic TDIH in a patient presenting 39 days after a complicated thoracic procedure, highlighting the surgical technique used for successful hernia reduction, diaphragmatic closure, and rib re-approximation. The case reinforces the possibility of a TDIH occurring as a post-surgical complication. Surgeons should anticipate the potential development of TDIH, particularly after thoracic procedures in patients with significant pre-existing conditions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cirrhosis. Such clinical awareness should be coupled with apt corrective surgical strategies thereby providing greater opportunity for successful patient recovery.

Bowel obstruction secondary to transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia

Bowel obstruction secondary to transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia

Finding the bubble: atypical and unusual extrapulmonary air in the chest

ObjectiveTo describe the radiologic findings of extrapulmonary air in the chest and to review atypical and unusual causes of extrapulmonary air, emphasizing the importance of the diagnosis in managing these patients. ConclusionIn this article, we review a series of cases collected at our center that manifest with extrapulmonary air in the thorax, paying special attention to atypical and uncommon causes. We discuss the causes of extrapulmonary according to its location: mediastinum (spontaneous pneumomediastinum with pneumorrhachis, tracheal rupture, dehiscence of the bronchial anastomosis after lung transplantation, intramucosal esophageal dissection, Boerhaave syndrome, tracheoesophageal fistula in patients with esophageal tumors, bronchial perforation and esophagorespiratory fistula due to lymph-node rupture, and acute mediastinitis), pericardium (pneumopericardium in patients with lung tumors), cardiovascular (venous air embolism), pleura (bronchopleural fistulas, spontaneous pneumothorax in patients with malignant pleural mesotheliomas and primary lung tumors, and bilateral pneumothorax after unilateral lung biopsy), and thoracic wall (infections, transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia, and subcutaneous emphysema after lung biopsy).

Laparoscopic repair of transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia following blunt trauma

Background Transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia (TIH) is a rare clinical entity that generally occurs following trauma or surgical intervention, but it may occur spontaneously Case Report An 82-year-old Korean man presented with left-sided chest pain after falling off an agricultural vehicle. Physical examination revealed a bruised painful swelling in the left lower chest wall confirmed as hernia of the transverse colon and omentum through a defect in the diaphragm into the 7th intercostal space. Laparoscopic repair with a prosthetic mesh was successful with no sign of hernia recurrence 3 years after injury. Discussion TIH is uncommon. Depending on the associated injuries they may be repaired via the chest or abdomen and with the widespread advent of minimally invasive surgery this can be achieved laparoscopically or thoracoscopically. Small defects can be closed directly, but larger defects will require mesh coverage. Care should be taken to avoid using fixation tacks close to the central tendon and are best suited to peripheral defect repairs.

Transdiaphragmatic Intercostal Hernia-An Unusual Hepatic Injury After a Car Accident: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia, in which the abdominal contents of the hernia protrude through the diaphragm and the thoracic wall defect. is a very rare type of hernia with only a few cases having been reported in the literature. That type of hernia is usually manifested in male patients after trauma, penetrating or blunt. It is frequently presented with a palpable thoracic mass and pain. The indicated treatment is surgery. We present the case of a 60-year-old female admitted to the hospital after a car accident and suffered multiple rib fractures (6th, 7th, 8th right ribs / 7th, 8th, 9th left ribs), as well as flail thorax, hemothorax bilaterally, left subcutaneous emphysema and swelling of soft tissues of the right lateral thoracoabdominal wall. CT scan revealed herniation of hepatic parenchyma and intestinal loops into the thorax. The patient was treated surgically, and his postoperative course was uneventful. We also review the relevant literature concerning this transdiaphragmatic, intercostal hernia and identify 42 cases. Transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia is a rare condition, usually manifested in male patients after trauma, penetrating or blunt. It is frequently presented with a palpable thoracic mass and pain. The indicated treatment is surgery.

Buscando la burbuja: aire torácico extrapulmonar atípico e inusual

ObjectiveTo describe the radiologic findings of extrapulmonary air in the chest and to review atypical and unusual causes of extrapulmonary air, emphasizing the importance of the diagnosis in managing these patients. ConclusionIn this article, we review a series of cases collected at our center that manifest with extrapulmonary air in the thorax, paying special attention to atypical and uncommon causes. We discuss the causes of extrapulmonary according to its location: mediastinum (spontaneous pneumomediastinum with pneumorrhachis, tracheal rupture, dehiscence of the bronchial anastomosis after lung transplantation, intramucosal esophageal dissection, Boerhaave syndrome, tracheoesophageal fistula in patients with esophageal tumors, bronchial perforation and esophagorespiratory fistula due to lymph-node rupture, and acute mediastinitis), pericardium (pneumopericardium in patients with lung tumors), cardiovascular (venous air embolism), pleura (bronchopleural fistulas, spontaneous pneumothorax in patients with malignant pleural mesotheliomas and primary lung tumors, and bilateral pneumothorax after unilateral lung biopsy), and thoracic wall (infections, transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia, and subcutaneous emphysema after lung biopsy).

Transdiaphragmatic Chest Wall Herniation

The combination of traumatic simultaneous diaphragmatic rupture and chest wall herniation remains rare, with 42 cases of traumatic transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia (TDIH) reported in the literature since 1946. An accurate count of cases is difficult to obtain, as TDIH nomenclature has been variable.1-5 Risk factors for traumatic TDIH are not well established. As these injuries are uncommon, best management techniques have yet to be established. Reported repair techniques include primary closure, closure with mesh, and implantation of prosthetic or autologous material. We present our single-center series of 7 patients, the largest reported to our knowledge, and discuss the challenges of repairing these difficult injuries. After obtaining institutional review board approval, data were abstracted from the electronic medical record on all adults who underwent evaluation and treatment for traumatic TDIH between July 2014 and January 2019. Of the 7 cases of traumatic TDIH, 6 patients developed TDIH secondary to cough; the seventh patient presented with chronic chest wall pain after an episode of heavy lifting. All patients were obese or overweight. Pain and a "popping sensation" were the most common presenting symptoms. All patients underwent operative intervention with primary repair of the diaphragm and suture approximation of the ribs. 3 patients had onlay mesh repair of the chest wall and/or abdominal wall. 1 patient had plating of his rib fracture. 3 patients had a recurrence of the intercostal portion of the hernia No patients have undergone reoperation thus far. While previously thought to more commonly occur on the left side due to the protective effects of the diaphragm,2 the majority in this series had right-sided injuries. Herniation through the ninth-10th interspace remains the most common location.4 Computed tomography imaging should be used for diagnosis and operative planning. It is best to manage these hernias acutely to re-establish normal anatomy. Mesh may be required in delayed reconstructions of if the chest wall cannot be re-approximated. Rib plating should be considered in cases of instability or flail. High rates of complications are not unexpected given the complicated and rare nature of the injury. Given the high rate of intercostal hernia recurrence, it is likely that mesh repair or should be more often used in the treatment of this injury.

Spontaneous but delayed case of transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia.

Spontaneous but delayed case of transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia.

Acquired transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia in a patient with recent pneumonia: surgical management with a thoracoabdominal approach.

Acquired transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia in a patient with recent pneumonia: surgical management with a thoracoabdominal approach.

Unifying classification for transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia and other costal margin injuries.

Taxonomy of injuries involving the costal margin is poorly described and surgical management varies. These injuries, though commonly caused by trauma, may also occur spontaneously, in association with coughing or sneezing, and can be severe. Our goal was to describe our experience using sequential segmental analysis of computed tomographic (CT) scans to perform accurate assessment of injuries around the costal margin. We propose a unifying classification for transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia and other injuries involving the costal margin. We identify the essential components and favoured techniques of surgical repair. Patients presenting with injuries to the diaphragm or to the costal margin or with chest wall herniation were included in the study. We performed sequential segmental analysis of CT scans, assessing individual injury patterns to the costal margin, diaphragm and intercostal muscles, to create 7 distinct logical categories of injuries. Management was tailored to each category, adapted to the individual case when required. Patients with simple traumatic diaphragmatic rupture were considered separately, to allow an estimation of the relative incidence of injuries to the costal margin compared to those of the diaphragm alone. We identified 38 patients. Of these, 19 had injuries involving the costal margin and/or intercostal muscles (group 1). Sixteen patients in group 1 underwent surgery, 2 of whom had undergone prior surgery, with 4 requiring a novel double-layer mesh technique. Nineteen patients (group 2) with diaphragmatic rupture alone had a standard repair. Sequential analysis of CT scans of the costal margin, diaphragm and intercostal muscles defines accurately the categories of injury. We propose a 'Sheffield classification' in order to guide the clinical team to the most appropriate surgical repair. A variety of surgical techniques may be required, including a single- or double-layer mesh reinforcement and plate and screw fixation.

Posttraumatic Transdiaphragmatic Intercostal Hernia: Report of a Case and Review of the Literature

Intercostal hernias are rare, and usually occur following injuries of the thoracic wall. The scope of this report is to present a case of a 53-year-old obese patient that developed a transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia. The patient presented with a palpable, sizeable, reducible mass in the right lateral thoracic wall, with evident bowel sounds in the area, 6 months after a motor-vehicle accident. On computed tomography (CT), the hernia sac contained part of the liver and part of the ascending colon. A surgical repair of the defect was performed, using a prosthetic patch. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful and she remains recurrence free at 12 months after surgery. Intercostal hernias should be suspected following high-impact injuries of the thoracic wall, and CT scans will facilitate the diagnosis of intercostal hernia. We consider the surgical repair of the defect, with placement of a prosthetic mesh, as the treatment of choice to ensure a favorable outcome.

Transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia: imaging aspects in three cases

Transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia is uncommon and mostly related to blunt or penetrating trauma. We report three similar cases of cough-induced transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia, highlighting the anatomic findings obtained with different imaging modalities (radiography, ultrasonography, CT, and magnetic resonance) in each of the cases.

Post-traumatic transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia: report of two cases

Transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernias (TIH) are rare. Less than 40 cases of TIH have so far been reported, with only 8 cases involving herniation of the liver. This report presents the case of 2 patients with a right-sided abdominal lump following a fall. Thoracoabdominal CT-scan showed a TIH between the 9th and 10th ribs with liver and right colonic herniation in both patients. Both patients were successfully treated with mesh repair. The presentation, physiopathology and management of this rare occurrence are discussed.

Transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia following blunt trauma

We report a rare case of traumatic transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia (TDIH) in an 85-year-old women who was transported to our hospital by ambulance after blunt trauma caused by the involvement in a motor vehicle accident. Chest and abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a left diaphragmatic rupture with a chest wall hernia involving loops of small intestine. An emergency operation was performed and led to a diagnosis of TDIH. Surgery via a thoracoabdominal incision in the left side was performed to reduce the hernia contents, and the diaphragmatic and intercostal defects were reconstructed by direct suture. CT scans were very helpful in detecting TDIH in this case.

Strangulated intercostal liver herniation subsequent to blunt trauma. First report with review of the world literature

Traumatic transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia, defined as an acquired herniation of abdominal contents through disrupted intercostal muscles, is a rarely reported entity. We present the first reported case of a traumatic transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia complicated by strangulation of the herniated visceral contents.Following blunt trauma, a 61-year old man developed a traumatic transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia complicated by strangulation of liver segment VI. Due to pre-existing respiratory problems and the presence of multiple other injuries (grade III kidney laceration and lung contusion) the hernia was managed non-operatively for the first 2 weeks.The strangulated liver segment eventually underwent ischemic necrosis. Six weeks later the resulting subcutaneous abscess required surgical drainage. Nine months post injury the large symptomatic intercostal hernia was treated with laparoscopic mesh repair. Twelve months after the initial trauma, a small recurrence of the hernia required laparoscopic re-fixation of the mesh.This paper outlines important steps in managing a rare post traumatic entity. Early liver reduction and hernia repair would have been ideal. The adopted conservative approach caused liver necrosis and required staged procedures to achieve a good outcome.

Incarcerated spontaneous transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia

IntroductionProlapse of abdominal viscera into the thoracic subcutis through the chest wall is known as transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia (TIH). Herein, we present the first case of spontaneous TIH presenting as a thoracoabdominal emergency. Presentation of caseA 78-year-old male presented with acute left thoracoabdominal pain following a sudden bulge at the left posterolateral chest wall corresponding to a partially reducible soft tissue mass with ecchymosis at the overlying skin. Paroxysmal cough during the last four days was also reported along with a prolonged daily application of a special tight abdominal belt that used while milking sheep. CT-scan of the abdomen showed intrathoracic proptosis of the splenic flexure through a defect of the left hemidiaphragm and subcutaneous prolapse of the herniated colon through the 7th intercostal space. On laparotomy, the herniated colon showed signs of ischemic necrosis leading to segmental colectomy followed by repair of the diaphragmatic defect. DiscussionThe clinical diagnosis of spontaneous TIH demands very high index of suspicion and thorough patient's history. In this case the daily elevation of the intraabdominal pressure due to an abdominal milking belt might have caused gradual slimming and loosening of the diaphragm and the intercostals muscles rendering them vulnerable to sudden increases of the thoracoabdominal pressure due to violent coughing. Such a hypothesis is reasonable in the absence of traumatic injury in this patient. ConclusionSpontaneous TIH should be suspected in patients presenting with a sudden palpable chest wall bulge and associated thoracoabdominal symptoms in the absence of preceding injury.

Spontaneous transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia: a rare clinical entity

The herniation of abdominal contents through a diaphragmatic and chest wall rent has been uncommonly reported in literature. Also known as a transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia (TDIH) or intercostal pleuroperitoneal hernia, it occurs when the disruption of diaphragmatic or intercostal muscles leads to an acquired herniation of abdominal contents. It is usually seen to occur following a traumatic incident. We report the case of an elderly male who presented with a reducible lump in the left chest and breathlessness on exertion, in the absence of any trivial or occult trauma, and how this was managed adequately via surgery alone.

Soft right chest wall swelling simulating lipoma following motor vehicle accident: transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia. A case report and review of literature

Intercostal herniation of abdominal contents through a diaphragmatic defect is rare. We report a case of transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia secondary to blunt trauma, initially misdiagnosed as lipoma, later confirmed by CT scan. We present a case of a 77-year-old who was involved in a motor vehicle accident and sustained a hand fracture. Later that year his wife noticed an egg-shaped soft swelling on his right chest wall. He was seen in the minor operative clinic, and a lipoma excision was attempted when it was found to be an intercostal hernia. Colon was seen in the hernial pouch. Anatomically, the chest wall is weak from the costochondral junction to the sternum because of lack of external intercostal muscle support, and from the costal angle posteriorly to the vertebrae because of lack of internal intercostal musculature. The integrity of the thoracic cage is disrupted by tears of the intercostal musculature between fractured ribs. This defect leads to separation of the ribs and development of a potential weakened space for hernia. This chest wall muscular weakness can occur anywhere and can be more pronounced if it occurs at anatomically weakened areas. In the presence of associated diaphragmatic rupture, there is herniation of abdominal viscera. The treatment includes immediate surgical repair either by abdominal or thoracoabdominal approach. A thorough physical examination may suggest the diagnosis, but confirmation by chest radiograph, CT scan, and sometimes by gastrointestinal contrast studies is often helpful for preoperative planning. A high index of suspicion for diaphragmatic injury or intercostal herniation during the initial evaluation, coupled with chest and abdominal diagnostic testing once the patient is stable, can avert undue delay in diagnosis and catastrophe from incarceration of a hernia.

Massive ipsilateral pleural effusion caused by transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia

Transdiaphragmatic intercostal hernia (TDIH) is a rare consequence from blunt chest-abdominal injury. The diagnosis of TDIH is often delayed. We report a patient who had a history of left-sided upper abdominal blunt injury 2 months before admission presented with a newly developed, massive pleural effusion and clinical manifestations of intestinal obstruction. A multidetector-row computed tomography confirmed the diagnosis of traumatic diaphragm rupture and TDIH. He underwent thoracotomy with reduction of herniated viscera and repair of the diaphragm and chest wall. He was discharged uneventfully and remained well on follow-up at 2 months.