Traumatic transection of the inferior and medial rectus muscles: a rare incident

A 68-year-old woman was referred to the emergency room for globe trauma of the left eye. Initial examination demonstrated absent adduction and infraduction. During preliminary repair, total transection of the medial and inferior rectus muscle bellies was noted, but the retracted proximal muscle segments could not be immediately retrieved. On re-exploration 36 hours later, both retracted muscle segments were recovered by tracing Tenon's capsule and reconnected to the distal portions of the muscles. At her postoperative month 1 visit she was orthotropic in primary gaze, with residual infraduction and adduction defects.