Surgical repair of traumatic isolated inferior rectus muscle avulsion.

PURPOSE:: To report our experience in the management of avulsion of the inferior rectus muscle.

METHODS:: We describe the approach we have used for surgical repair of isolated avulsion of the inferior rectus muscle in two patients who suffered orbital trauma.

RESULTS:: In both cases, the proximal portion of the inferior rectus muscle was located successfully by the generated muscle force duction test and sutured back into its original insertion point. Infraduction was normal and orthotropia was present in all directions of gaze during 1 year of postoperative follow-up in both cases. These favorable outcomes are attributed in part to the inferior rectus muscle pulleys system and the natural history of this type of injury, which allows the lost proximal portion to be identified by generated muscle force duction test.

CONCLUSION:: Generated muscle force duction test can be used to locate the proximal portion of a lost inferior rectus muscle and restore its function in patients with traumatic avulsion injury involving an extraocular muscle.