Doctors at Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, have successfully performed a complex elbow reconstruction on a 53-year-old woman using a high-strength synthetic polyester ligament following a severe road accident.

The patient, Alpana Gaur from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, sustained a catastrophic degloving injury around her elbow, resulting in near-complete destruction of the soft tissues and critical ligament structures responsible for stabilising the joint.

After receiving initial treatment at a nearby hospital, Gaur was referred to Max Smart Super Speciality Hospital for specialised care. A multidisciplinary upper limb trauma team evaluated her condition and opted for a synthetic ligament reconstruction because there was virtually no remaining ligament tissue suitable for conventional repair.

The procedure was performed by Dr Vikas Gupta, Principal Director, Max Institute of Musculoskeletal Sciences and Orthopaedics, and Hand & Wrist, Elbow and Shoulder Specialist, along with his team.

Unlike conventional reconstruction, which may require harvesting tendon grafts from another part of the patient’s body, the synthetic polyester ligament provided immediate structural support without creating an additional surgical site.

“The patient had sustained one of the most devastating elbow injuries we encounter in trauma surgery. The entire soft tissue envelope responsible for stabilising the elbow had been destroyed,” said Dr Vikas Gupta.

He said the synthetic ligament was used to recreate the damaged ligament complexes and restore immediate stability, allowing the team to preserve joint function while avoiding the additional trauma associated with tendon harvesting.

A key objective of the procedure was to enable early mobilisation. The reconstructed elbow was stable enough for carefully supervised joint movement to begin within 24 hours of surgery, an uncommon outcome following such extensive trauma.

The case highlights the potential of advanced ligament reconstruction techniques in treating high-energy upper-limb trauma, including injuries caused by road accidents and industrial mishaps.