title: Inexpensive self-retaining retractor for minor surgical procedures.
abstract: The need for adequate surgical exposure frequently leads to the use of hand-held retractors, tying up operating room personnel and depriving the assistant a direct view of the procedure. Self-retaining retractors are a great help because they assist in obtaining and maintaining the exposure needed for surgery. Traditional self-retaining retractors often have sharp tips that are capable of damaging tissue. Our self-retaining ring retractor uses material already present in the sterile field and can be constructed in less than 3 minutes. It is efficient, easy to use, and exerts a known and finite amount of force, thereby avoiding tissue damage.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA. carlbpearl@aol.com
authors.forename: Carl B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Pearl
authors.forename: Arturo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aguillon
authors.forename: Emily
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.forename: Jack
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D006801:Humans; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013525:Surgical Instruments