Abstract: A pressure relief pad for use against a body member during orthopaedic surgery including a pad of a resilient material having a first outer surface and a second outer surface. The first outer surface has a slot extending longitudinally thereacross. The slot has a width suitable for receiving surgical tubing therein. The second outer surface has a contour suitable for placement against the body member. The surgical tubing will extend through the slot while the pad is interposed between the surgical tubing and the body member. Retractor paddles can be attached to the opposite ends of the surgical tubing for the purposes of retracting the incision during surgery.

Abstract: A ligament retractor assembly including a first retractor paddle, a second retractor paddle and an elastic member having one end received in an opening of the first retractor paddle and an opposite end received by an opening of the second retractor paddle. Each of the first and second retractor paddles includes a retaining section and a lever section. The lever section extends at a generally acute angle with respect to the retaining section. The first and second retractor paddles are integrally formed of a polymeric material. Each of the first and second retractor paddles includes a gripping portion formed at an end of the retaining section adjacent the lever section. The opening is formed on the retaining section of the paddles and has a generally dog leg configuration opening at a side of the retaining section and extending at an angle toward a median of the retaining section. A hole is formed through the retaining section adjacent the opening.

Abstract: A circumferential retractor apparatus including a first retractor paddle, a second retractor paddle and an elastic member. Each of the first and second retractor paddles includes a body portion with an arm extending outwardly therefrom. The arm supports a grasping surface. The arm of the retractor paddle has a hole formed therein through which the elastic member passes. A slot opens at a top edge of the body portion such that a respective end of the elastic member is received therein. The slot has a dog leg configuration with a wide opening adjacent the top edge of the body portion of the respective paddles.

Abstract: A circumferential retractor apparatus including a first retractor paddle having a grasping surface and a body portion supporting the grasping surface, a second retractor paddle having a grasping surface and a body portion supporting the grasping surface and an elastic member having one end received by the first retractor paddle and an opposite end received by the second retractor paddle. Each of the paddles has a hole formed therein of a size suitable for allowing the elastic member to pass therethrough. A slot is formed in the body portion so as to open to the hole. The slot is of a tapered configuration so as to have a wide end opening to the hole and a narrow end away from the hole. The grasping surface includes a plurality of fingers extending outwardly of the body portion. Each of the plurality of fingers are arranged in parallel spaced relationship to each other. The elastic member is a length of surgical tubing.