Results from surgical treatment of Morel-Lavallée lesions: prospective cohort study

To present the results from early diagnosis and delayed surgical treatment of a cohort of patients who were diagnosed with Morel-Lavallée lesions.

Between January 2006 and December 2013, we performed delayed surgical debridement on Morel-Lavallée lesions, after delimitation of the local tissue necrosis, followed by closure through second intention and/or use of grafts/flaps.

All the patients evolved with complete closure of the lesion after the delayed debridement, granulation of the operative wound and primary suturing or construction of pedunculated flaps. Three patients (50%) evolved with deep infectious processes due to the successive operative procedures.

Whatever the treatment methods used are, they should be performed in a radical manner. If not, the patient will be at risk of evolution to septicemia and death.