A Simple Retractor for Anterior Cervical Diskectomy.

Abstract

The insertion of available cervical retractor systems is relatively complex for the limited exposure required for single-level anterior cervical diskectomy. To introduce a novel cervical retractor system and report the initial experience of its application. A simple retractor system was designed that is fixed to the vertebral body through Caspar pins. The design allows the retractor to move with the vertebrae during distraction via the traditional Caspar distractor system. The advantages and limitations of the device based on the initial experience are discussed. The author has used the current version of the retractor on 32 single-level anterior cervical diskectomies. The insertion of the retractor is easy, and its application provides safe and satisfactory anterior cervical exposure. There have not been related complications, although transient dysphagia has not been prevented. This newly designed retractor system is simple and efficient for a single-level anterior cervical diskectomy, and its insertion is relatively easy.