Abstract: There is disclosed according to the invention a suction retractor for retraction of a nerve root during surgery, comprising a suction tube having an interior and exterior diameter, and a suction end and a base end, a retractor member having a tubular portion slidably positioned over the suction tube, said tubular portion having an interior diameter slightly larger than the exterior diameter of the suction tube such that the tubular portion is axially and rotatably slidable on the suction tube by manual pressure and yet sufficiently tight that it frictionally engages the suction tube and does not move except by said manual pressure, the retractor member having a spatula portion extending from said tubular portion axially toward and radially away from the suction end of the suction tube, the spatula portion adapted to permit the retraction of a nerve root during surgery.