Retractor (medical)

A retractor is a surgical instrument that separates the edges of a surgical incision or wound, and holds back underlying organs and tissues, so that body parts under the incision may be accessed. They are available in many shapes, sizes, and styles.

The retractor was invented by Abu al-Qasim, an Islamic physician, over 1000 years ago.

History
Surgical retractors probably originate with very basic tool use in the Stone Age. Branches or antlers of various shapes were used to dig and extract food from the ground. As the use of tools evolved, a variety of instruments came about to substitute for the use of hooked or grasping fingers in the butchering of meat or dissection of bodies. The use of metals in tool making was of great importance. A variety of Roman metal instruments of the hook and retractor family have been found by archeologists. These instruments would generally be called hooks if the end was as narrow as the handle of the instrument. If the end was broad, it would be called a retractor. Also arising from this group of tools were other related tools for displacing (elevators and spatulas) and scooping (spoons and curettes).

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 text Al-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 in the early 20th century.

Current
The following is a list of surgical retractors in current use :


 * 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 Retractor