Cervicothoracic Morel-Lavallée Lesion After a High-Speed Motor Vehicle Crash

Abstract

The Morel-Lavallée (ML) lesion occurs as a result of a shearing force that separates the subcutaneous tissue from fascia, with no discontinuity with the dermis to the environment. Although most commonly occurring in the proximal lower extremity and pelvis, awareness of the injury has led to recognition of ML lesion in other regions of the body such as the thoracolumbar and lumbar spine. Late or misdiagnoses can lead to complications and increased morbidity. Awareness and early recognition of these lesions, which can occur anywhere in the spine posteriorly, often lead to successful conservative management. A complete physical examination during patient follow-up will likely lead to increased diagnoses of these lesions in a subacute setting. We present a unique case of a patient with 2 ML lesions a first report of this, with one ML lesion involving the cervicothoracic junction, previously unreported, and the other involving the thigh, the most common site for ML lesions, in the patient after a high-speed rollover motor vehicle collision. The etiology and pathophysiology of these lesions are discussed.