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CT incidence of Morel-Lavallee lesions in patients with pelvic fractures: a 4-year experience at a level 1 trauma center

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Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the incidence and location of Morel-Lavallee lesions (MLLs) on pelvic CTs performed in evaluation of pelvic fractures and determine if correlation exists between MLLs and mechanism of injury or pelvic ring injury pattern. A retrospective review was performed of pelvic CTs on 1493 consecutive patients presenting with pelvic fractures at our level 1 trauma center. MLLs occurred in 182 of 1493 patients presenting with pelvic fractures. Statistical significance in MLL incidence was found across mechanism of injuries with MLLs being seen most frequently in MCC/ATV accidents and crush injuries. A little over half of MLLs occurred over the lateral thigh with almost all other MLLs occurring over the posterior (flank or lumbar) region. MLLs were much more common in vertical shear and spinopelvic dissociation pelvic ring fracture patterns compared to lateral compression and AP compression patterns. In lateral compression injuries, MLLs most commonly occurred over the thigh. In all other pelvic ring injury patterns, MLLs were predominately posterior. MLL’s are not as rare as previously believed. The lateral thigh and lumbar/flank regions should be closely inspected on pelvic trauma patients to identify MLLs, particularly in patients with a spinopelvic dissociation injury pattern.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Memorial Hospital System in Houston. We acknowledge the support provided by the Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research Design (BERD) component of the Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences (CCTS) for this project. CCTS is mainly funded by a grant (UL1 TR000371) from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), awarded to University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NCATS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging, Memorial Hermann, Houston, TX, USA

    Nicholas M. Beckmann

  2. Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Imaging, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6431 Fannin Street, 2.130B, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Nicholas M. Beckmann

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6410 Fannin, UTPB 1100.08, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Chunyan Cai

  4. Biostatistics/Epidemiology/Research/Design Core, Center for Clinical and Translational Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 6410 Fannin, UTPB 1100.08, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Chunyan Cai

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Correspondence to Nicholas M. Beckmann.

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Beckmann, N.M., Cai, C. CT incidence of Morel-Lavallee lesions in patients with pelvic fractures: a 4-year experience at a level 1 trauma center. Emerg Radiol 23, 615–621 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-016-1430-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-016-1430-1

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