Morel-Lavallee Lesions-Review of Pathophysiology, Clinical Findings, Imaging Findings and Management

Authors

Sreelatha Diviti, Resident, Department of Radiology, Yale New Haven Health at Bridgeport Hospital, Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.
Nishant Gupta, Resident, Department of Radiology, St. Vincent's Medical Center, Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.Follow
Kusum Hooda, Resident, Department of Radiology, Yale New Haven Health at Bridgeport Hospital, Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.Follow
Komal Sharma, Resident, Department of Radiology, St. Vincent's Medical Center, Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.Follow
Lawrence Lo, Attending Radiologist, Department of Radiology, Yale New Haven Health at Bridgeport Hospital, Bridgeport, Connecticut, USA.Follow

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of clinical and diagnostic research : JCDR

Abstract

Morel-Lavallee lesion is a post-traumatic soft tissue degloving injury. This is commonly associated with sports injury caused by a shearing force resulting in separation of the hypodermis from the deeper fascia. Most common at the greater trochanter, these injuries also occur at flank, buttock, lumbar spine, scapula and the knee. Separation of the tissue planes result in a complex serosanguinous fluid collection with areas of fat within it. The imaging appearance is variable and non specific, potentially mimicking simple soft tissue haematoma, superficial bursitis or necrotic soft tissue neoplasms. If not treated in the acute or early sub acute settings, these collections are at risk for superinfection, overlying tissue necrosis and continued expansion. In this review article, we discuss the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, imaging features and differential diagnostic considerations of Morel-Lavallee lesions. Role of imaging in guiding prompt and appropriate treatment has also been discussed.

First Page

TE01

Last Page

TE04

DOI

10.7860/JCDR/2017/25479.9689

Publication Date

4-1-2017

Recommended Citation

Diviti, Sreelatha; Gupta, Nishant; Hooda, Kusum; Sharma, Komal; and Lo, Lawrence, "Morel-Lavallee Lesions-Review of Pathophysiology, Clinical Findings, Imaging Findings and Management" (2017). Radiology. 102.
https://scholar.bridgeporthospital.org/radiology/102

Identifier

28571232 (pubmed); PMC5449878 (pmc); 10.7860/JCDR/2017/25479.9689 (doi)