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Case Reports
. 2014 Jul;24(3):288-90.
doi: 10.4103/0971-3026.137053.

Morel-Lavallée lesion: A closed degloving injury that requires real attention

Anirudh V Nair  1 , Pk Nazar  1 , Resmi Sekhar  1 , Pv Ramachandran  1 , Srikanth Moorthy  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Morel-Lavallée lesion: A closed degloving injury that requires real attention

Anirudh V Nair et al. Indian J Radiol Imaging. 2014 Jul.

Abstract

Morel-Lavallée lesions are post-traumatic, closed degloving injuries occurring deep to subcutaneous plane due to disruption of capillaries resulting in an effusion containing hemolymph and necrotic fat. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the modality of choice in the evaluation of Morel-Lavallée lesion. Early diagnosis and management is essential as any delay in diagnosis or missed lesion will lead to the effusion becoming infected or leading to extensive skin necrosis.

Keywords: Closed degloving injury; Morel-Lavallée lesions; magnetic resonance imaging.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
USG scan of fluctuant swelling in left anterolateral thigh showing, (a) large complex septated (arrow head) fluid collection within deep subcutaneous tissues; (b and c) fluid collection with internal echoes; (d) no evidence of vascularity
Figure 2
Figure 2
CT axial images (a and b) hypodense collection (asterisk) within deep subcutaneous tissues; Coronal image (c) streaks of fat density (arrow head) within subcutaneous collection
Figure 3
Figure 3
MR (a) Coronal T1W image showing, subcutaneous hypointense-fluid collection with fat density (arrow); (b) Coronal T2W image, showing hyperintense subcutaneous fluid collection
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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