Prompt Diagnosis and Management of Morel-Lavallée Lesion: A Case Report
Abstract
Background: The Morel-Lavallée lesion (MLL) is an unusual injury that occurs due to shearing forces separating the skin from the underlying layers. This lesion can lead to an infectious hematoma and create a life-threatening condition.
Case report: A case of a 21-year-old female patient is presented who visited the emergency department after a truck ran over her foot. It was later determined that she had an MLL in her thigh. The patient fully recovered using a vacuum-assisted closure.
Discussion: Articles on MLL and its diagnostic tools are reviewed to ensure accurate and rapid diagnosis of MLL, with a special emphasis on early diagnosis.
Conclusion: It is crucial for orthopedic surgeons to be aware of the diagnostic steps and symptoms to quickly identify and treat MLL before it causes irreversible damage to the patient.
Vanhegan IS, Dala-Ali B, Verhelst L, Mallucci P, Haddad FS. The
morel-lavallée lesion as a rare differential diagnosis for
recalcitrant bursitis of the knee: case report and literature
review. Case Rep Orthop. 2012;2012:593193. doi:
10.1155/2012/593193. [PubMed: 23320230]. [PubMed Central:
PMC3539348].
2. Scolaro JA, Chao T, Zamorano DP. The Morel-Lavallée Lesion:
Diagnosis and Management. J Am Acad Orthop Surg.
2016;24(10):667-72. doi: 10.5435/jaaos-d-15-00181. [PubMed:
27579812].
3. Isaac FSu, Espinosa JA, Lucerna AA. Morel Lavallee Lesion:
A Shear Fascia-nating Soft Tissue Injury. Proceedings of 28th
Annual Research Day; 2024 May 2-5; Glassboro, NJ.
4. Hudson DA, Knottenbelt JD, Krige JE. Closed degloving
injuries: results following conservative surgery. Plast Reconstr
Surg. 1992;89(5):853-5. doi: 10.1097/00006534-199205000-00013.
[PubMed: 1561257].
5. Nickerson TP, Zielinski MD, Jenkins DH, Schiller HJ. The Mayo
Clinic experience with Morel-Lavallée lesions: establishment
of a practice management guideline. J Trauma Acute Care
Surg. 2014;76(2):493-7. doi: 10.1097/ta.0000000000000111.
[PubMed: 24458056].
6. Mooney M, Gillette M, Kostiuk D, Hanna M, Ebraheim N.
Surgical Treatment of a Chronic Morel-Lavallée Lesion: A Case
Report. J Orthop Case Rep. 2020;9(6):15-8. doi:
10.13107/jocr.2019.v09.i06.1568. [PubMed: 32548020]. [PubMed
Central: PMC7276585].
7. Zairi F, Wang Z, Shedid D, Boubez G, Sunna T. Lumbar Morel
Lavallée lesion: Case report and review of the literature.
Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2016;102(4):525-7. doi:
10.1016/j.otsr.2016.01.006. [PubMed: 26965645].
8. Kottmeier SA, Wilson SC, Born CT, Hanks GA, Iannacone WM,
DeLong WG. Surgical management of soft tissue lesions
associated with pelvic ring injury. Clin Orthop Relat Res.
1996(329):46-53. doi: 10.1097/00003086-199608000-00007.
[PubMed: 8769435].
9. Shen C, Peng JP, Chen XD. Efficacy of treatment in peri-pelvic
Morel-Lavallee lesion: a systematic review of the literature.
Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2013;133(5):635-40. doi:
10.1007/s00402-013-1703-z. [PubMed: 23443527].
10. Mudiganti V, Singam AP, Kakara S, Iswarya M, Jain A. Morel
Lavallee Lesion Associated With Rhabdomyolysis in
Polytrauma. Cureus. 2024;16(6):e63536. doi:
10.7759/cureus.63536. [PubMed: 39086784]. [PubMed Central:
PMC11290411].
11. Agha RA, Borrelli MR, Farwana R, Koshy K, Fowler AJ, Orgill DP.
The SCARE 2018 statement: Updating consensus Surgical CAse
REport (SCARE) guidelines. Int J Surg. 2018;60:132-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2018.10.028. [PubMed: 30342279].
12. Nair AV, Nazar P, Sekhar R, Ramachandran P, Moorthy S. Morel
Lavallée lesion: A closed degloving injury that requires real
attention. Indian J Radiol Imaging. 2014;24(3):288-90. doi:
10.4103/0971-3026.137053. [PubMed: 25114393]. [PubMed Central:
PMC4126145].
13. Sanogo S, Karembé B, Diallo S, Albachar H, Diarra O, Fall I, et al.
Corticosteroid Sclerotherapy of Morel-Lavallée Syndrome:
about a Case at the Reference Health Center (CSRéf) Commune
III of Bamako. SAS J Surg. 2024;10(4):522-5. doi:
10.36347/sasjs.2024.v10i04.029.
14. Schwab PE, Bourbon De Albuquerque Ii J, Bridgeman JT, Brown
S, Kfuri M. Morel-Lavallée lesion around the knee successfully
treated with video-assisted endoscopic débridement: A case
report. Trauma Case Rep. 2024;51:100991. doi:
10.1016/j.tcr.2024.100991. [PubMed: 38550965]. [PubMed
Central: PMC10973646].
15. Li P, Ning X, Jia L, Du G, Jiang S, Gong Z, et al. A minimally
invasive incision and loop drainage technique for the
treatment of lower limb Morel-Lavallée lesions: Nose ring
drainage technique. Injury. 2020;51(2):570-3. doi:
10.1016/j.injury.2019.12.014. [PubMed: 31852590].
16. Penaud A, Quignon R, Danin A, Bahé L, Zakine G. Alcohol
sclerodhesis: an innovative treatment for chronic Morel
Lavallée lesions. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2011;64(10):
e262-4. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2011.06.012. [PubMed: 21741333].
17. Singh R, Rymer B, Youssef B, Lim J. The Morel-Lavallée lesion
and its management: A review of the literature. J Orthop.
2018;15(4):917-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2018.08.032. [PubMed:
30190632]. [PubMed Central: PMC6126206].
18. Luria S, Applbaum Y, Weil Y, Liebergall M, Peyser A. Talc
sclerodhesis of persistent Morel-Lavallée lesions
(posttraumatic pseudocysts): case report of 4 patients. J
Orthop Trauma. 2006;20(6):435-8. doi: 10.1097/00005131
200607000-00013. [PubMed: 16825972].
19. Greenhill D, Haydel C, Rehman S. Management of the Morel
Lavallée Lesion. Orthop Clin North Am. 2016;47(1):115-25.
doi: 10.1016/j.ocl.2015.08.012. [PubMed: 26614926].
20. Tseng S, Tornetta P, 3rd. Percutaneous management of Morel
Lavallee lesions. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006;88(1):92-6.
doi: 10.2106/jbjs.e.00021. [PubMed: 16391253].
21. Ota K, Shimazu K, Ota K, Takasu A. Morel-Lavallée Lesion
Treated With Single-Use Portable Negative Pressure Wound
Therapy: A Case Report and Literature Review. Cureus.
2025;17(1):e78152. doi: 10.7759/cureus.78152. [PubMed:
40027057]. [PubMed Central: PMC11870786].
morel-lavallée lesion as a rare differential diagnosis for
recalcitrant bursitis of the knee: case report and literature
review. Case Rep Orthop. 2012;2012:593193. doi:
10.1155/2012/593193. [PubMed: 23320230]. [PubMed Central:
PMC3539348].
2. Scolaro JA, Chao T, Zamorano DP. The Morel-Lavallée Lesion:
Diagnosis and Management. J Am Acad Orthop Surg.
2016;24(10):667-72. doi: 10.5435/jaaos-d-15-00181. [PubMed:
27579812].
3. Isaac FSu, Espinosa JA, Lucerna AA. Morel Lavallee Lesion:
A Shear Fascia-nating Soft Tissue Injury. Proceedings of 28th
Annual Research Day; 2024 May 2-5; Glassboro, NJ.
4. Hudson DA, Knottenbelt JD, Krige JE. Closed degloving
injuries: results following conservative surgery. Plast Reconstr
Surg. 1992;89(5):853-5. doi: 10.1097/00006534-199205000-00013.
[PubMed: 1561257].
5. Nickerson TP, Zielinski MD, Jenkins DH, Schiller HJ. The Mayo
Clinic experience with Morel-Lavallée lesions: establishment
of a practice management guideline. J Trauma Acute Care
Surg. 2014;76(2):493-7. doi: 10.1097/ta.0000000000000111.
[PubMed: 24458056].
6. Mooney M, Gillette M, Kostiuk D, Hanna M, Ebraheim N.
Surgical Treatment of a Chronic Morel-Lavallée Lesion: A Case
Report. J Orthop Case Rep. 2020;9(6):15-8. doi:
10.13107/jocr.2019.v09.i06.1568. [PubMed: 32548020]. [PubMed
Central: PMC7276585].
7. Zairi F, Wang Z, Shedid D, Boubez G, Sunna T. Lumbar Morel
Lavallée lesion: Case report and review of the literature.
Orthop Traumatol Surg Res. 2016;102(4):525-7. doi:
10.1016/j.otsr.2016.01.006. [PubMed: 26965645].
8. Kottmeier SA, Wilson SC, Born CT, Hanks GA, Iannacone WM,
DeLong WG. Surgical management of soft tissue lesions
associated with pelvic ring injury. Clin Orthop Relat Res.
1996(329):46-53. doi: 10.1097/00003086-199608000-00007.
[PubMed: 8769435].
9. Shen C, Peng JP, Chen XD. Efficacy of treatment in peri-pelvic
Morel-Lavallee lesion: a systematic review of the literature.
Arch Orthop Trauma Surg. 2013;133(5):635-40. doi:
10.1007/s00402-013-1703-z. [PubMed: 23443527].
10. Mudiganti V, Singam AP, Kakara S, Iswarya M, Jain A. Morel
Lavallee Lesion Associated With Rhabdomyolysis in
Polytrauma. Cureus. 2024;16(6):e63536. doi:
10.7759/cureus.63536. [PubMed: 39086784]. [PubMed Central:
PMC11290411].
11. Agha RA, Borrelli MR, Farwana R, Koshy K, Fowler AJ, Orgill DP.
The SCARE 2018 statement: Updating consensus Surgical CAse
REport (SCARE) guidelines. Int J Surg. 2018;60:132-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijsu.2018.10.028. [PubMed: 30342279].
12. Nair AV, Nazar P, Sekhar R, Ramachandran P, Moorthy S. Morel
Lavallée lesion: A closed degloving injury that requires real
attention. Indian J Radiol Imaging. 2014;24(3):288-90. doi:
10.4103/0971-3026.137053. [PubMed: 25114393]. [PubMed Central:
PMC4126145].
13. Sanogo S, Karembé B, Diallo S, Albachar H, Diarra O, Fall I, et al.
Corticosteroid Sclerotherapy of Morel-Lavallée Syndrome:
about a Case at the Reference Health Center (CSRéf) Commune
III of Bamako. SAS J Surg. 2024;10(4):522-5. doi:
10.36347/sasjs.2024.v10i04.029.
14. Schwab PE, Bourbon De Albuquerque Ii J, Bridgeman JT, Brown
S, Kfuri M. Morel-Lavallée lesion around the knee successfully
treated with video-assisted endoscopic débridement: A case
report. Trauma Case Rep. 2024;51:100991. doi:
10.1016/j.tcr.2024.100991. [PubMed: 38550965]. [PubMed
Central: PMC10973646].
15. Li P, Ning X, Jia L, Du G, Jiang S, Gong Z, et al. A minimally
invasive incision and loop drainage technique for the
treatment of lower limb Morel-Lavallée lesions: Nose ring
drainage technique. Injury. 2020;51(2):570-3. doi:
10.1016/j.injury.2019.12.014. [PubMed: 31852590].
16. Penaud A, Quignon R, Danin A, Bahé L, Zakine G. Alcohol
sclerodhesis: an innovative treatment for chronic Morel
Lavallée lesions. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2011;64(10):
e262-4. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2011.06.012. [PubMed: 21741333].
17. Singh R, Rymer B, Youssef B, Lim J. The Morel-Lavallée lesion
and its management: A review of the literature. J Orthop.
2018;15(4):917-21. doi: 10.1016/j.jor.2018.08.032. [PubMed:
30190632]. [PubMed Central: PMC6126206].
18. Luria S, Applbaum Y, Weil Y, Liebergall M, Peyser A. Talc
sclerodhesis of persistent Morel-Lavallée lesions
(posttraumatic pseudocysts): case report of 4 patients. J
Orthop Trauma. 2006;20(6):435-8. doi: 10.1097/00005131
200607000-00013. [PubMed: 16825972].
19. Greenhill D, Haydel C, Rehman S. Management of the Morel
Lavallée Lesion. Orthop Clin North Am. 2016;47(1):115-25.
doi: 10.1016/j.ocl.2015.08.012. [PubMed: 26614926].
20. Tseng S, Tornetta P, 3rd. Percutaneous management of Morel
Lavallee lesions. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2006;88(1):92-6.
doi: 10.2106/jbjs.e.00021. [PubMed: 16391253].
21. Ota K, Shimazu K, Ota K, Takasu A. Morel-Lavallée Lesion
Treated With Single-Use Portable Negative Pressure Wound
Therapy: A Case Report and Literature Review. Cureus.
2025;17(1):e78152. doi: 10.7759/cureus.78152. [PubMed:
40027057]. [PubMed Central: PMC11870786].
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 11 No 2 (2025) | |
| Section | Case Report | |
| Keywords | ||
| Morel-Lavallée lesion MLL Case Report | ||
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How to Cite
1.
Moulaei R, Moulaei K, Vosoughi F. Prompt Diagnosis and Management of Morel-Lavallée Lesion: A Case Report. J Orthop Spine Trauma. 2025;11(2):81-5.
