- Retractor (medical)
A retractor is a surgical instrument by which a surgeon can either actively separate the edges of a surgical incision or wound, or can hold back underlying organs and tissues, so that body parts under the incision may be accessed. The two are each available in many shapes, sizes, and styles. The general term retractor usually describes a simple handheld steel tool possessing a curved, hooked, or angled blade fitted with a comfortable handle, that when in place maintains the desired position of a given region of tissue. These simple retractors may be handheld, clamped in situ, or suspended at the end of a robotic arm. The term retractor is also informally used, though, to describe the distinct, hand-cranked devices such as rib spreaders (also known as distractors) with which surgeons may forcefully drive tissues apart to obtain the exposure.
The retractor was invented by Abu al-Qasim, an Islamic physician, over 1000 years ago.Fact|date=December 2007
History
In a description of the procedure of tonsillectomy from the 7th century CE,
Paul of Aegina documents the use of a tongue spatula to keep the tongue out of the way while a form of tonsil hook is used to bring the tonsil forward for excision.In 1000 CE
Abu al-Qasim al-Zahrawi , also known as Albucasis or Abulcasis, described a variety of surgical instruments including retractors in his famous textAl-Tasrif .Vesalius described a variety of hooks and retractors in the 1500's.Dr. von Mikulicz invention of a hinged rib spreading retractor in 1904 headed a flurry of development of distractors in the early 20th century, culminating in our modern devices. [cite journal
last = Bonfils-Roberts
first = E
date =
year = 1972
month = May
title = The Rib Spreader: A Chapter in the History of Thoracic Surgery
journal = Chest
volume = 61
issue = 5
pages = 469–474
issn = 0012-3692
pmid =
doi = 10.1378/chest.61.5.469
url = http://www.chestjournal.org/cgi/reprint/61/5/469.pdf
accessdate = 2008-04-22 ]Current
The following is a list of surgical retractors in current use [cite web |url= http://www.kmedicoem.com/pdf/GENERALS.PDF|title= General Instrument Sourcebook - KMedic|accessdate=2008-04-22 |format=pdf ] :
* Lahey Retractor
* Senn Retractor
* Blair (Rollet) Retractor
* Rigid Rake
* Flexible Rake
* Ragnell Retractor
* Linde-Ragnell Retractor
* Davis Retractor
* Volkman Retractor
* Mathieu Retractor
* Jackson Tracheal Hook
* Crile Retractor
* Meyerding Finger Retractor
* Little Retractor
* Love Nerve Retractor
* Green Retractor
* Goelet Retractor
* Cushing Vein Retractor
* Langenbeck Retractor
* Richardson Retractor
* Richardson-Eastmann Retractor
* Kelly Retractor
* Deaver Retractor
* Parker Retractor
* Parker-Mott Retractor
* Roux Retractor
* Mayo-Collins Retractor
* U.S. Army Retractor
* Ribbon Retractor
* Alm Retractor
* Self Retaining Retractors
* Gelpi Retractor
* Weitlaner Retractor
* Beckman-Weitlaner Retractor
* Beckman-Eaton Retractor
* Beckman Retractor
* Adson Retractor
* Balfour RetractorReferences
* [http://www.collectionscanada.ca/physicians/002032-210-e.html Famous Canadian Physicians: Dr. Norman Bethune] at Library and Archives Canada
External links
* [http://www.kaycoindia.com/general-surgical-instrument/retractor.htm Images of several types of retractors]
* [http://www.wikisurgery.com/index.php?title=Retractors_05_Parts_of_retractors Retractors on WikiSurgery.]
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.