Femoral nerve injury from abdominal retractors

Abstract

Three patients who had pelvic laparotomies have been presented. These showed transient femoral nerve involvement following the use of the Mann abdominal retractor. Two patients who received spinal anaesthetics developed unilateral and one who had a general anaestaetic developed a bilateral paralysis. No further cases have occurred since 1955 when the danger from the pressure of the lateral blades in the conventional position was recognized, and the retractor was placed in a reversed position. © 1958 Canadian Anesthesiologists.