A Brief Guide On Retractor Surgery Instruments And Their Uses

A surgical procedure becomes hectic for surgeons if they cannot properly expose and access the surgery site. Therefore, they need specially designed retracting and exposing instruments. 

Retractor surgery tools are the instruments that help medical practitioners in holding back incisions and organs. Thus, these instruments aid them in accessing and performing the procedures in hard-to-reach areas. 

There’s a large variety of medical retractors, and each type and variation has its certain specialty. The types of surgery retractors depend on the bodily part where surgeons have to carry out the procedure. 

However, the most important general surgery retractors are hand-held retractors and self-retaining retractors. There are further numerous variations of both these types. 

Here, we’ll discuss the use of retractors, their types, differences, and everything related to these instruments. 

Use Of Retractors In Surgery 

Basically, retractors are exposing surgical instruments. In the operation theatre, during a procedure, they help surgeons in many ways, such as

•    Holding back the organs
•    Retracting the tissues
•    Clamping and spreading incisions
•    Retracting the skin and bones
•    Exposing wounds 

Moreover, some hook-like retractor surgery instruments help lift the bodily structures in order to access underneath organs. In some cases, medical retractors aid surgeons as clamping instruments. 

As a matter of fact, the use of retractors in surgery varies according to their structure and the location of the surgical site. 

Types Of Surgical Retractors

As discussed above, the types of medical surgery retractors depend on multiple factors. These include

•    Structure of the retractors
•    Specific surgical area or body part
•    Single-use or reusable retractor tool surgery

Let’s discuss all these types one by one.

Structure-wise Types Of Surgical Retractors  

Regarding structure, there are two major types of surgical retractor instruments, including 

Hand-held Retractors

These are the retractor surgery tools that are often single pieces, such as hook-like retractors. These feature no such mechanism that can keep and lock them in place. Therefore, surgeons have to hold this type of surgical retractors throughout the procedure. 

Basically, such types of retractors are helpful in retracting and holding the skin and organs in surface procedures. However, in some cases, these are used for retracting the incisions to access the deep surgical sites.  

Here’s the list of surgical retractors that are hand-held 

•    Senn
•    Army-Navy
•    Ribbon (Malleable) 
•    Hohmann 
•    Farabeuf 
•    Meyerding 
•    Deaver 
•    Richardson 

Apart from that, there are some other hand-held surgery retractors, including Lahey, Blair (Rollet), Ragnell, Linde-Ragnell, Davis, Volkman, Farabeuf, Jackson, Tracheal Hook, Love Nerve, Goelet, and Cushing Vein Retractor.

Mostly, these retractor surgery instruments are stainless steel made. Nevertheless, some of these can also be made of other materials, such as plastic or rubber. 

Self-retaining Retractors 

Self-retaining retractors are surgeons’ hand extensions in various critical procedures. These specially designed retracting instruments have a special ratchet system or adjustable lock mechanism that keeps and locks them in place for longer procedures. 

Moreover, these retractors have an extensive structure. Usually, they feature sharp tips or prongs that help retract the incisions and organs efficiently. 

The list of surgical retractors that are self-retaining is as follows.

•    Beckman Retractor
•    Balfour Retractor
•    Alms Retractor
•    Lone Star Retractor 
•    Gelpi Retractor
•    Gutow Retractor
•    Weitlaner Retractor
•    Beckman-Weitlaner Retractor
•    Beckman-Eaton Retractor
•    Travers Retractor
•    West Retractor

All self-retaining surgery retractors are ergonomically designed to prevent damaging the targeted organs.

Benefits Of Self-retaining Retractors Over Hand-held Retractors  

Self-retaining, as well as hand-held medical retractors, have their advantages according to their specialties. However, the former type has several benefits over the latter.

Compared to the hand-held retractor surgery instruments, the self-retaining ones are 

•    Free up the assistant’s hands
•    Prevent surgeons’ hand fatigue
•    Provide improved access to the surgical site
•    Ideal for longer surgical procedures 
•    Require single-handed adjustments 
•    At the incision or wound, there’s a small instrument clutter
•    Easily handleable

Retractors’ Types Regarding Organs or Procedures

The surgical retractors are also categorized based on the body part or organ they are specific for. Moreover, the names of the retractors can also be according to certain procedures. 

Examples of such retractors include 

•    Hip retractors
•    Neurosurgery retractors 
•    Gynecology retractors 
•    Spinal retractors
•    Abdominal retractors
•    Tissue retractors
•    Bone retractors 
•    Orthopedic retractors
•    Urology retractors 
•    Eye retractors
•    Nasal retractors 

Besides that, there are many more procedure-specific retractors. 

Single-Use and Reusable Retractors

In some critical procedures, the contaminated retractors are not even reusable after sterilization. Therefore, surgeons prefer single-use retractors to prevent any kind of complications.

Mostly, these disposable retractors are made of plastic. These are flexible and less traumatic. Moreover, single-use retractors are sterile, saving sterilization costs. Examples of such medical retractors include Galaxy II self-retaining retractor.

In contrast, reusable retractors are usually made of stainless steel. These are long-lasting and easily sterilizable for reuse. 

Some Important Retractor Surgery Instruments 

Above, we’ve discussed all the types of surgical retracting instruments. Let’s have an overview of some important retractors. 

Abdominal Retractors 

Abdominal retractors are helpful for retracting skin, tissues, and organs during multiple abdominal procedures. There is a wide variety of these specific surgical retractors. Each type has a different structure according to the specific procedure in the abdominal cavity. 

Some important abdominal retractors include 

•    Gosset Abdominal Retractor
•    Collin Abdominal Retractor.
•    Fritsch Abdominal Retractor
•    O'Sullivan-O'Connor Abdominal Retractor
•    Franz Abdominal Retractor

The Gosset Abdominal Retractor is helpful in exposing abdominal viscera by opening the incisions. It features two looped blades for atraumatically holding the bodily structures. 

On the other hand, the O'Sullivan-O'Connor Abdominal Retractor is ideal for retracting midline incisions during hysterectomies. It features a very complicated structure with an adjustable mechanism. 

Beckman Retractor

Beckman retractor is a specialized retractor helpful for exposing the surgical site during spinal and intracranial surgeries. It features an ergonomic design that makes it a more valuable retracting instrument. 

The Beckman retractor has three or four prongs on both arms that help hold the bodily structures securely. Moreover, it features a finger ring handle and an adjustable lock mechanism. 

Owing to its structural features, this self-retaining retractor can stay in place for longer, reducing surgeons’ hand fatigue. The different variations of Beckman retractors include 

•    Beckman Weitlaner Retractor Sharp
•    Beckman Weitlaner Retractor Blunt
•    Beckman Eaton Laminectomy Retractor

Bladder Retractors

Bladder retractors are ideal for helping surgeons in urology procedures. These are useful in retracting the urinary bladder's skin, tissues, and muscles.

Moreover, these self-retaining retractor instruments feature two swivel blades, one center blade, and an adjustable mechanism. Judd Masson retractor is a common example of bladder retractor surgery tools.

Blair Flexible Shank Retractors

It is a hand-held surgical retractor. It features two or more curved prongs with a round, grooved shank and a smooth, flat handle grip. This single-piece instrument is ideal for retracting skin in dermatology procedures.

Moreover, it is helpful for primary tissue retraction in multiple surgeries. Surgeons also use this instrument for small bone and joint procedures. Additionally, it is useful for neck tissue dissection.

Cardiovascular and Thoracic Retractors 

Cardiovascular and Thoracic Retractors are ideal for holding back skin, tissues, and organs during the procedures of the chest cavity. These are also hand-held retractors with multiple size variations.

Two examples of cardiovascular and thoracic retractors include Israel Retractor and Allison Lung Retractor.

Gynecological Retractors

Gynecological Retractors are specially designed for retracting the tissues and skin while examining the cervix and vagina. There is a variety of these retractor surgery instruments.

The ergonomic structure and comfortable handle grip make gynecological retractors atraumatic and easily handleable.

The important variations include 

•    Doyen Vaginal Retractor
•    Jackson Vaginal Retractor
•    LEEP/LLETZ Redundant Wall Vaginal Retractor
•    Redundant Wall Retractor
•    Sims Vaginal Retractor Single Ended
•    Eastman Vaginal Retractor
•    Kelly Vaginal Retractor Grip Handle
•    Lateral Vaginal Retractor
•    De Lee Universal Retractor

Plastic Surgery Retractors 

During rhinoplasty and nasal reconstruction, plastic surgery retractors are special instruments that help hold and retract delicate tissues and skin. These are single-piece instruments available in a number of variations and sizes. 

These hand-held retractors are the extensions of plastic surgeons. The delicate craft and fine structure of these retractors make them ideal for plastic surgeries. 

The commonly used variations of plastic surgery retractors include 

•    Rollet Retractor
•    Converse Alar Retractor
•    McIndoe Bone Cutting Forceps
•    Cottle Knife Guide & Retractor
•    Aufricht Nasal Retractor
•    Nievert Knife Guide & Retractor
•    Kazanjian Nasal Cutting Forceps

Get Premium-Quality Surgical Retractors 

Sub-standard surgery retractors can cause several procedural complications. Therefore, a wise surgeon will always go for a reliable source of these important surgical instruments.  

The list of retractors is lengthy when you consider the bodily structures, including the arms, legs, head, neck, chest, and other critical organs and tissues.

However, the major objective of retractor surgery tools is to expose the surgical site with greater efficiency—and it is only possible when you have a high-end retracting instrument.

GerMedUSA offers a range of medical retractors and other surgical instruments made of German stainless steel for improved durability.  

FAQs

What are our surgical retractors made of?

Our surgery retractors are made of German stainless steel, making them reusable, corrosion-resistant, and high-tensile. 

Why buy from us?

We promise premium quality material and excellent craft for our medical retractors. These are designed to last for years with little upkeep.