Pictorial review of Morel-Lavallée lesions

Abstract

A Morel-Lavallée lesion is a post-traumatic soft tissue degloving injury which presents as a haemolymphatic mass or collection. Morel-Lavallée lesions are the result of direct trauma or shearing forces abruptly separating skin and subcutaneous tissue from underlying fascia causing disruption of perforating vessels and nerves, creating a potential space that may fill with blood, lymph and debris forming a collection. Morel-Lavallée lesions usually occur adjacent to osseous protuberances, most commonly along the greater trochanter. Early diagnosis and management is essential to prevent complications. We present this pictorial review to highlight the imaging characteristics of Morel-Lavallée lesions across imaging modalities to improve recognition, early diagnosis and management.

Keywords: Morel-Lavallée lesion; closed degloving injury; haemolymphatic collection; traumatic soft-tissue injury.