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Sharma et al. Plast Aesthet Res 2016;3:335-8 Plastic and
DOI: 10.20517/2347-9264.2016.65
Aesthetic Research

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Case Report Open Access

Morel-Lavallee lesion - radiological spectrum

Bharat Bhushan Sharma , Sandeep Sharma , Priya Ramchandran , Narendar Kumar Magu , Mir Rizwan Aziz ,
2
2
1
1
3
Shilpa Singh 4
1 Department of Radiodiagnosis, SGT Medical College, Gurgaon 122505, India.
2 Anaesthetics, Heartlands Hospital, Birmingham, West Midlands B9 555, UK.
3 Department of Orthopaedics, SGT Medical College, Gurgaon 122505, India.
4 Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, SGT University, Gurgaon 122505, India.
Correspondence to: Dr. Bharat Bhushan Sharma, Department of Radiodiagnosis, SGT Medical College, Gurgaon 122505, India.
E-mail: bbhushan986@gmail.com
How to cite this article: Sharma BB, Sharma S, Ramchandran P, Magu NK, Aziz MR, Singh S. Morel-Lavalle lesion - radiological spectrum. Plast
Aesthet Res 2016;3:335-8.
ABSTRACT
Article history: Morel-Lavallee lesion (MLL) entity represents as a haemolymph mass as a result of closed
Received: 10-08-2016 degloving injury following focal trauma. The swelling can be mistaken as a tumor or simple
Accepted: 11-10-2016 hematoma formation, and it can be of concern as it gradually increases in size. It is important
Published: 25-10-2016 to diagnose the entity promptly as proper management can avoid skin necrosis and further
complications. We present a 20-year-old female nursing student who fell down from a scooter
Key words: and developed painful massive right thigh swelling over a 3-week course following trauma. She
Morel-Lavallee lesion, underwent plain radiography which was unremarkable. Ultrasound and magnetic resonance
haemolymph, imaging revealed the diagnosis of MLL and she was treated accordingly.
ultrasound,
magnetic resonance imaging

INTRODUCTION CASE REPORT

Morel-Lavallee lesion (MLL) occurs when there is a A 20-year-old female reported to the orthopedic
collection of haemolymph due to the separation of surgery department three weeks after falling from
skin and subcutaneous tissue from the underlying her scooter, with slightly painful swelling over the
fascia. This usually happens after blunt trauma lateral aspect of the right thigh. The painful swelling
and patients present with progressive swelling and increased progressively from small to massive size.
pain. The potential space formed by this separation On examination the site of the swelling was on the
of tissues is occupied by the oozing serous fluids lateral aspect of the upper half of the right thigh.
like blood and lymph. This collection sometimes The swelling was soft and fluctuating, measuring
becomes encapsulated and does not resolve. Victor- approximately 15 cm × 12 cm dimensions. Mild skin
[1]
Auguste-Francois Morel-Lavallée, a French surgeon discoloration was present without open wounds
described this entity first time in 1848. [Figure 1].
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