A Morel-Lavallee Lesion After Total Knee Arthroplasty and Aggressive Physical Therapy Manipulation: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is one of the most common procedures performed in orthopedics. It has the potential for multiple complications. We present a case of a patient who developed a Morel-Lavallée lesion (closed degloving injury) of the knee in the setting of a postoperative seroma after aggressive physical therapy manipulation following TKA. Clinically, the presentation was similar to a prosthetic joint infection. The patient was treated with thorough open irrigation, debridement, and dead space management with internal quilting sutures, followed by the placement of negative pressure wound therapy and compression, all of which are mainstays of treatment for closed degloving injuries. Despite the rarity of the lesion, the surgeon should maintain a high level of suspicion, even in the setting of seemingly minor repetitive trauma.