
Volkmann Retractor
Also known as: Volkman Retractor, Volkmann Rake
Hand-held rake retractor with sharp or blunt prongs on a curved head, named after Richard von Volkmann, used to hold back skin and tissue.
Reusable hand instrument
About the Volkmann Retractor
The Volkmann retractor is a hand-held rake-type retractor. Its working end is a curved head carrying one or more prongs that hook into the wound edge and draw the tissue back. Wikipedia credits the German surgeon Richard von Volkmann with inventing it.
It is made with sharp prongs, which grip tough tissue firmly, or blunt prongs, which are kinder to delicate structures. The number of prongs varies widely, from single-prong hooks to wide multi-prong rakes (sometimes called cat's-paw types). Handles are solid or ring-shaped.
Manufacturers list it for general and orthopaedic use, and in smaller sizes for neurosurgery and hand surgery. Prong count, sharpness and length should all be specified when ordering.
Product reference: Rigor Instruments — official product page. The listed company is shown as a source; check the catalogue for its role as manufacturer or supplier.
Common uses
- Retraction of skin and soft tissue in orthopaedic surgery
- General surgical wound exposure
- Superficial retraction in neurosurgery
Catalogue listings from manufacturers
| Brand | Catalogue item | Model no. | Size / length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lenox Surgical Instruments | VOLKMANN Bone Retractor – Blunt | LS06-187 | Official site ↗ | |
| Lenox Surgical Instruments | Volkmann Bone Retractor Sharp | LS06-188 | Official site ↗ | |
| Rigor Instruments | Volkmann Retractor #1 (RI-S-2939) | RI-S-2939 | #1 | Official site ↗ |
| Rigor Instruments | Volkmann Retractor #2 (RI-S-2949) | RI-S-2949 | #2 | Official site ↗ |
| Rigor Instruments | Volkmann Retractor #3 (RI-S-2964) | RI-S-2964 | #3 | Official site ↗ |
| Lenox Surgical Instruments | Volkmann Retractor Sharp Pattern | LS06-189 | Official site ↗ | |
| Rigor Instruments | Volkmann Retractors | Official site ↗ |
7 items listed in manufacturers’ own online catalogues, with sizes and model numbers as published. Check the exact item on the manufacturer’s page before ordering.
Companies offering this instrument

Rigor Instruments
Sialkot, Pakistan
Sialkot surgical instrument manufacturer with its own factory, offering spine, laparoscopy and obstetrics instruments and custom orders.
Shown only where the company’s own catalogue or website lists this instrument.
Further reading
- How to Read a Surgical Instrument CataloguePatterns, lengths, tips, locks, materials and finishes: the catalogue terms buyers need to compare instrument offers like for…
- Stainless Steel Grades and Finishes for Surgical InstrumentsMartensitic vs austenitic steel, ISO 7153-1 and ASTM F899, tungsten carbide inserts, titanium, and satin vs mirror finishes…
- How Surgical Instruments Are Made: From Forging to PassivationA step-by-step look at how reusable surgical instruments are made: steel choice, forging, machining, heat treatment, grinding, polishing…
Questions about the Volkmann Retractor
What is a Volkmann Retractor used for?
Hand-held rake retractor with sharp or blunt prongs on a curved head, named after Richard von Volkmann, used to hold back skin and tissue.
What other names is the Volkmann Retractor known by?
The Volkmann Retractor is also known as Volkman Retractor, Volkmann Rake.
What are rake retractors, and what do sharp and blunt prongs mean?
Rake retractors have a blade made of several curved prongs, like a small garden rake, and are used to retract skin and soft tissue. They are described by the number of prongs and whether the prongs are sharp or blunt. Sharp prongs grip tissue firmly; blunt prongs are generally regarded as less likely to puncture structures. Rakes appear as hand-held instruments, such as the Volkmann pattern, and on self-retaining designs such as the Weitlaner. Prong tips are an inspection point because they bend easily. See the Volkmann retractor guide.
Where can I find catalogue listings for the Volkmann Retractor?
7 items matching this pattern are listed from manufacturers’ own online catalogues: Rigor Instruments (4) and Lenox Surgical Instruments (3). The catalogue table gives each model number and size as published, with a link to the official product page.
Which companies offer the Volkmann Retractor?
Companies whose own catalogues list the Volkmann Retractor include Rigor Instruments. Check the exact pattern and size with the company.
Which instruments are related to the Volkmann Retractor?
Other retractors in this directory include Gelpi Retractor, Langenbeck Retractor, Love Nerve Root Retractor and Meyerding Retractor. See all retractors.
What should I check when sourcing retractors?
- Pattern and size: compare the blade or prong size and depth and the handle style with the supplier’s catalogue drawing or a sample.
- Material: confirm the exact steel grade or alloy in the supplier’s documentation, such as the material specification or certificate.
- Finish and any coating, as stated by the supplier.
- Regulatory marking or registration required in your target market (see medical device certifications).
- Reprocessing: the cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation instructions in the manufacturer’s instructions for use (IFU).
Sources
- rigorinstruments.com/neuro-surgical-instruments/hand-held-volkmann-catspaw-retractor-6-prong-neuro-surgical-instrument-ri-1-1149/
- rigorinstruments.com/neuro-surgical-instruments/hand-held-volkmann-catspaw-retractor-5-prong-neuro-surgical-instrument-ri-1-1148/
- rigorinstruments.com/neuro-surgical-instruments/hand-held-volkmann-catspaw-retractor-4-prong-neuro-surgical-instrument-ri-1-1148/
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_von_Volkmann
- en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Retractor_(medicine)
- surgicalholdings.co.uk/orthopaedic/retractors/volkmann-retractor.html
- accessgudid.nlm.nih.gov/devices/04250381890622
- accessgudid.nlm.nih.gov/devices/04250381890530
- accessgudid.nlm.nih.gov/devices/04048551201367
Last checked 29 Oct 2026. Information is general reference, not clinical guidance.
Suggest a correction if any detail on this page is wrong.

