Poster Describes Rare Case of Morel-Lavallée Lesion After Gastroc Recession

Although researchers have described Morel-Lavallée lesions in the thigh, researchers presented a poster at the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons Scientific Conference detailing the first incidence of such a lesion arising after a gastrocnemius recession.¹
 
The Morel-Lavallée lesion is a closed degloving injury that develops between the subcutaneous layer and muscle fascia, described as a fibrotic pseudocapsule exhibiting fat necrosis. The case study in the poster focuses on a 62-year-old woman who had flatfoot reconstruction with a gastroc recession. Several months post-op, researchers note she had pain, swelling, and an indurated area at the incision. Ultrasound revealed a space-occupying lesion with fluid collection in deep subcutaneous tissue. The pathology report indicated a cyst that was liquified necrotic material in an encapsulated sac.
 
The poster notes the patient received negative pressure wound therapy, a wound dressing, and compression dressings and healed without recurrence of fluid collection.
 
Reference
 
1. Breitenbach TL, Wynes J. Morel-Lavallée lesion after a gastrocnemius recession: a case report. Presented at the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons Scientific Conference, Los Angeles, Feb. 9–12, 2023.