IT’S TRAUMA TUESDAY is

a Free Weekly Newsletter

Brought to you by TCAR Education Programs

For nurses and other clinicians practicing anywhere

along the trauma care spectrum

Take a quick test of your trauma care knowledge

Article of the Week

A Morel-Lavallée Lesion Is NOT "Just a Bad Bruise"

This review highlights the Morel-Lavallée lesion, an uncommon but serious soft-tissue injury caused by trauma that separates the skin and subcutaneous tissue from the underlying fascia, resulting in a fluid collection. 

For trauma nurses, the key takeaway is that these injuries can be EASILY MISSED during initial assessments because they look like bruises, most commonly on the hip, buttocks, or thigh. Over days or weeks, M-L lesions evolved into painful, swollen areas. Early recognition is critical, especially when patients report persistent swelling or fluctuance after blunt trauma. The skin at the site is often cold and has abnormal sensation. Management ranges from compression and drainage to surgical intervention, depending on severity. Prompt treatment reduces the risk of infection, delayed healing, and long-term tissue damage.

Click the link to view the article or watch a short AI-generated article summary (5 min 37 sec).
 

Sarani N, Ahluwalia A, Buchanan A, Kartiko S, Quintana MT. Morel-Lavallée lesion: What you need to know. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2026;100(4):525-531.

Media of the Month

In Shock

In Shock: My journey from Death to Recovery and the Redemptive Power of Hope, a book by Dr. Rana Awdish

This book is a compelling firsthand account of a physician who suddenly became gravely ill, revealing her experience navigating the complexities—and critical shortcomings—of the healthcare system from the hospital bed rather than the bedside.

Get your Kindle, paper, or Audible copy at the Amazon link below.

Did you know you can Ask a Trauma Nurse?

Did you know you have a bona fide trauma nurse expert available and at your fingertips as you navigate through the TCAR or PCAR course curriculum? Need further clarification on a concept? Want more details on a specific topic, or have a clinical question related to the content? Simply go to the navigation bar at the top of the course page and click on Ask a Trauma Nurse. A member of TCAR Education Programs' Curriculum Team will respond to your question within 24-48 hours. It is as easy as that!

You Put What Where? Fun With Foreign Bodies!

Foreign bodies in the head, neck, extremities, airway, and other orifices often result from trauma or accidental injuries, especially in children. This Medscape article reviews foreign-body assessment, diagnostics, and interventions, and features some very interesting images.

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