title: Morel-LAvallee lesion initially diagnosed as quadriceps contusion: ultrasound, MRI, and importance of early intervention.
abstract: Morel-Lavallee lesions (MLL) are rare, closed degloving injuries caused by trauma that delivers a shearing force to the soft tissue most commonly of the hip. If not treated in the acute and subacute setting these lesions are often complicated by re-accumulation of fluid, infection, or chronic pain. We present a unique case of a recurrent, massive medial knee/thigh MLL in which proper treatment was delayed due to initial diagnosis of a quadriceps contusion. We describe the ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging findings of this patient and based on a review of recent literature propose that the initial management should have included early drainage/debridement, which likely could have prevented recurrence and significantly shortened the clinical course.
authors.affiliation: San Antonio Military Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.affiliation: San Antonio Military Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Jeremiah J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.affiliation: San Antonio Military Medical Center, Department of Radiology, Fort Sam Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Shane B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000058:Accidental Falls; D000328:Adult; D003646:Debridement / Q000379:methods; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010329:Patella / Q000473:pathology*; D012008:Recurrence; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D013848:Thigh / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome