Successful extraocular muscle re-resection for a strabismus surgery complication: A "snapped" [Severed, Inadvertently] and retrieved inferior rectus muscle: A case report

A 26-year-old woman who had a left head tilt since childhood was undergoing left inferior rectus resection to correct her left inferior rectus paresis. During the surgery, when the inferior rectus was isolated and engaged with an eye muscle hook, the muscle tore (snapped) completely into two pieces, 8 mm posterior to insertion. Fortunately, we were able to find the proximal portion of the muscle and, after a 3 mm resection, of the distal yet attached 8 mm portion, the proximal and distal portions were sutured together with a non-absorbable suture. After nine months followup there was significant diplopia, and the preoperative left head tilt and left hypertropia remained, so a left inferior rectus re-resection was done. At the end of 18 months followup after the second procedure there was no binocular deviation (strabismus) in primary position nor in any other gaze positions, but there was a mild ocular motility infraduction deficit present on left and down gaze.