Intraoperative mechanical failure of a 25-gauge vitreous cutter.

Purpose: To describe the mechanical failure of a 25-gauge vitreous cutter intraoperatively and the management of this complication.

Methods: An observational case report of a 39-year-old Type 1 diabetic woman with proliferative retinopathy who underwent pars plana vitrectomy with 25-gauge instrumentation.

Results: Breakage of the 25-gauge vitreous cutter occurred during delamination of a dense fibrovascular plaque. The cutter was successfully removed via the trocar as a single unit. The patient recovered with no sequelae.

Conclusions: Breakage of 25-gauge instrumentation intraoperatively is a very rare event. This case constitutes only the second reported complication as such. However, it is easily managed and can result in few, if any, adverse sequelae.