title: A new table-fixed soft tissue retractor for the anterior cervical spinal surgery.
abstract: Since surgeons sometimes encounter difficulty in keeping self- retaining soft tissue retractors in the proper position for anterior cervical spinal surgery, we have developed a new, simple soft tissue retractor system, which is fixed to the side rails of the operating table via retractor stands. All three joints of the retractor can be tightened simultaneously with a single handle. Each of two retractor blades can keep its position independent of the other thereby maintaining a well-exposed operative field for a long period of time. Fine adjustments of the blade position, after fixation of the retractors, is possible by sliding the head of the blade assembly along the axis of a ratchet mechanism. We have used these retractors in 43 surgical exposures, including 35 for anterior cervical fusion, 2 for posterior thoraco-lumbar decompression, and 6 for carotid endarterectomy. There have been no complications related to tissue damage.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Nagoya University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takayasu
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shibuya
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000295:instrumentation; D016894:Endarterectomy, Carotid / Q000295:instrumentation; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation; D013523:Surgical Equipment