Arthroscopic Treatment of a Large Traumatic Morel-Lavallée Lesion of the Knee in a Young Female Athlete: A Case Report.

INTRODUCTION

Morel-Lavallée lesions (MLLs) are uncommon soft-tissue injuries that can be easily mistaken for other conditions, especially around the knee.

CASE REPORT: We present the case of an 18-year-old female athlete who developed a large collection of fluid around the knee after a direct blow to the leg during a wrestling competition. The injury first appeared to be a simple prepatellar bursitis but was later found to be a large fluid collection on magnetic resonance imaging, which measured 9.0 × 2.2 × 18.1 cm and extended from the distal quadriceps to below the tibial tubercle. The patient had a minimally invasive arthroscopic procedure to drain and clean the area. This procedure was followed by a course of prophylactic antibiotics.

CONCLUSION

This case highlights the importance of considering MLLs when evaluating knee swelling and shows that arthroscopic surgery can be an effective and less invasive treatment option for young active patients.