Case: During orthopaedic open reduction and internal fixation, early fatigue failure of a Mizuho OSI Orthopedic Trauma Table Top occurred. The patient fell toward the ground but was uninjured. A material failure characterized by a crack in the spar tube leading to complete table component separation was identified. To our knowledge, this report is the first of its kind to specifically highlight surgical table device failure intraoperatively.
Conclusion: Although rare, early fatigue failure of operating tables is possible, leading to hazardous intraoperative situations and the potential for serious patient injury or death. Operating tables and equipment should be inspected rigorously and with proper documentation to prevent such events.