Surgeons cannot operate on what they cannot see. Surgical retractors hold back skin, muscle and organs to expose the operative field. There are hundreds of patterns, but they fall into two main groups: hand-held and self-retaining. This guide explains the most common retractor types, names and uses.
Hand-held retractors
Hand-held retractors are held by an assistant and can be repositioned quickly.
- Army-Navy (US Army): double-ended, for superficial incisions.
- Senn (rake): one end with sharp or blunt prongs, the other a flat blade, for small superficial wounds.
- Volkmann: rake retractor with multiple sharp or blunt prongs for skin and soft tissue.
- Richardson and Kelly: right-angled blades for abdominal walls.
- Deaver: wide, curved blade for deep abdominal and thoracic retraction.
- Langenbeck: flat blade for general and orthopedic surgery.
- Hohmann: narrow tip that levers around bone in orthopedic surgery.
- Skin hooks: fine single or double hooks for plastic surgery.
Self-retaining retractors
Self-retaining retractors lock open by themselves, freeing the assistant’s hands.
- Weitlaner: ratchet handle with sharp or blunt prongs, for general, orthopedic and neurosurgery.
- Gelpi: single sharp points for deep, narrow incisions such as spine work.
- Adson cerebellar and Beckman: stronger versions for deeper fields.
- Balfour: large frame retractor for abdominal surgery.
- Finochietto: rib spreader for thoracic surgery.
- Bookwalter and frame systems: table-mounted systems for major abdominal procedures.
Specula as retractors
Vaginal, nasal and rectal specula are specialised retractors used to expose body cavities. See our gynecology instruments guide for details.
How to choose a retractor
- Depth: longer, deeper blades for deep cavities.
- Tissue: blunt prongs for vessels and nerves, sharp prongs for skin and fascia.
- Staff: self-retaining retractors when assistance is limited.
- Finish: satin finish reduces glare under theatre lights.
Pak Line Industries manufactures hand-held and self-retaining retractors in Sialkot to ISO 13485 quality. Explore surgical instruments and complete instrument sets.
FAQs
What is the difference between a Weitlaner and a Gelpi retractor?
A Weitlaner has multiple prongs on each arm and is used for wider fields, while a Gelpi has a single sharp point on each arm for deep, narrow incisions.
What is a self-retaining retractor?
It is a retractor with a ratchet or locking mechanism that keeps it open without being held.
Source instruments direct from the manufacturer
Pak Line Industries has manufactured surgical, dental and beauty instruments in Sialkot, Pakistan since 1985. ISO 13485 & CE quality, OEM and private label, exported to 55 countries.
