Diagnosis and Treatment of a Sports-Related Morel Lavallée Lesion With Point-of-Care Ultrasound: A Case Study

Morel-Lavallée lesions (MLLs) are closed degloving injuries that result in inter-fascial hemolymphatic collections. These lesions develop as a result of shearing forces in the deep fascial planes and often arise in the context of significant high-velocity traumas. However, they are often underdiagnosed, especially in the case of atypical presentations such as sports or low-impact injuries. Here we present a case of MLL following a fall from a bike at low speed that resulted in a large area of soft-tissue ecchymosis and swelling that would not resolve following conservative treatment. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) was used to diagnose and guide interventional treatment via ultrasound-guided drainage of the fluid collection. This case is informative as it serves as a reminder for providers to always consider MLL in the differential diagnosis of soft tissue injuries. It additionally demonstrates how POCUS can help identify and assist in management of MLLs in the primary care setting.