ObjectiveTo analyze the reasons for the failure of scleral buckling (SB) in the treatment of rhegmatogenous retinal detachment, and observe the efficacy and safety of re-buckling.MethodsThis was a retrospective non-comparative clinical research. From July 2014 to June 2020, patients with first-time SB failure who visited the Beijing Tongren Hospital were included in this study. There were 42 patients, including 30 males and 12 females, with the average age of 29.40±16.13 years, and they were all monocular. The retinal detachment range＜1, 1-2 and＞2 quadrants were 9, 22 and 11 eyes, respectively. The macula was involved in 38 eyes. The average logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.99±0.57. Forty eyes and 2 eyes were performed 1 and 2 SB, and all the retina were not reattached. All patients were under general anesthesia, according to the conditions during the operation, re-freeze and located the holes under indirect ophthalmoscope. And selected the new external pressure material or retained the old one in combination with the other operations to reattaced the retina. The average follow-up time was 31.93±18.97 months. The reasons for the failure of the first surgery based on the records of this surgery were analyzed. The visual acuity changes, the rate of retinal reattachment and the occurrence of complications were observed. The visual changes were compared by paired t test.ResultsThe top three reasons for the failure were: 16 case of the displacement of the compression spine (38.10%); 9 cases of missing the retinal holes and 9 case of improper selection of compression substances (account for 21.43%, respectively); 6 cases of insufficient height of compression spine (14.29%). All of retina were reattached (100%, 42/42). The average logMAR BCVA was 0.52±0.40. The difference of logMAR BCVA between before and after surgery was statistically significant (t=6.106, P=0.000). There were a slight increase in intraocular pressure in 8 eyes, the average intraocular pressure was 25.00±2.61 mmHg (1 mmHg=0.133 kPa). No serious complications occurred after surgery.ConclusionsThe position deviation of the compression spine, the missed hole during the operation, the improper selection of external compression material, and the insufficient height of the compression spine are the main reasons for the failure of SB. After adjusting the reasons for the failure, there is still a higher rate of retinal reattachment.