Despite the obvious shortcomings of their weak arms and tedious wing-nut assemblies for blade-to-arm attachments, Scoville retractor systems remain a part of the familiar "landscape" of many a Laminectomy Instrument Set.

These silent sentinels of wound exposure endure for they are not without endearing graces. Certainly, one of the most appealing features of their design allows the surgeon to carefully position the selected blades in the wound site before attaching them to retractor arms. The French Laminectomy Retractor recognizes the value of pre-positioning blades. Each of the interchangeable blades has a rectangular track into which the arms of the frame may be passed once blade position is established. An unobtrusive thumbscrew on each of the arms locks the blades in place. Three- and four-prong rake-style blades in three depths are a part of the complete set.

The frame of the French Laminectomy Retractor features sturdier arms and a noticeably "beefier" rack and pinion mechanism than that found on Scoville Retractors. A permanently mounted crank handle, which folds obediently out of the surgeon's way, is built proportional to the operational requirements. Our integral handle offers a distinct advantage over many competing retractors. Separate ratchet mechanisms are easily lost, or even worse, dropped and contaminated during surgery, resulting in unnecessary delay during re-sterilization.

Talking Back, Vol. 1, No. 4.