title: Diagnosis and Management of Closed Internal Degloving Injuries: The Morel-Lavallée Lesion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Morel-Lavallée (ML) lesions are closed degloving injuries described as posttraumatic subcutaneous fluid collections. They are most commonly seen in the proximal thigh. They can present several days to months after the inciting event.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 55-year-old woman with a recent admission for trauma presented to the Emergency Department with increasing swelling and pain in the right thigh for the previous 3 days. Ultrasound of the thigh was negative. Magnetic resonance imaging performed to further evaluate for leg swelling revealed a "Morel-Lavallée lesion" of the thigh that required drainage. The patient recovered completely after the surgery. WHY SHOULD THE EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Emergency physicians should be aware of these rare lesions because they are often mistaken for tumors or hematomas. Early recognition may avoid subsequent complications and help in obtaining prompt specialist care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care, University of California San Francisco - Fresno Medical Education Program, Fresno, California.
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jalota
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Reading Health System, West Reading, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Anene
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ukaigwe
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Reading Health System, West Reading, Pennsylvania; Department of Cardiology, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Shashank
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jain
mesh_terms: D004322:Drainage; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D012421:Rupture / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D013848:Thigh; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Morel-Lavallée lesion; closed degloving injury; posttraumatic injury