INTRODUCTION: Soft tissue injuries are a common presenting complaint seen in the 
emergency department following trauma. However, internal degloving injuries are 
not commonly seen by the emergency provider.
CASE REPORT: A 57-year-old male presented with right lower extremity pain, 
bruising, and swelling after a low-speed bicycle accident five days prior. 
Physical examination revealed an edematous and ecchymotic right lower extremity 
extending from the mid-thigh distally. Computed tomography of the thigh 
demonstrated a hyperdense foci within the fluid collection suggesting internal 
hemorrhage and internal de-gloving suggestive of a Morel-Lavallée lesion.
DISCUSSION: The Morel-Lavallée lesion is a post-traumatic soft tissue injury 
that occurs as a result of shearing forces that create a potential space for the 
collection of blood, lymph, and fat. First described in 1853 by French physician 
Maurice Morel-Lavallée, this internal degloving injury can serve as a nidus of 
infection if not treated appropriately. Magnetic resonance imaging has become 
the diagnostic modality of choice due to its high resolution of soft tissue 
injuries. Treatment has been focused on either conservative management or 
surgical debridement after consultation with a surgeon.
CONCLUSION: The emergency physician should consider Morel-Lavallée lesions in 
patients with a traumatic hematoma formation to avoid complications that come 
from delayed diagnosis.