Cottle Retractor, Sharp 2 Prong, 15 cm

What the cottle retractor is

This cottle retractor is a 15 cm skin hook with two sharp prongs, used in rhinoplasty and septoplasty to hold a nasal skin flap on two points rather than one. It is named after Maurice Cottle, whose work shaped modern nasal surgery.

Two points is the whole design. A single prong lets the flap rotate around it the moment any real tension goes on, and a rotating flap is one that tears at the puncture. Two prongs fix the flap in the plane it was caught in and hold it there.

It is the instrument for a skin edge under load. It is not the instrument for mucosa, because a sharp prong goes through mucosa instead of holding it.

Key design features of this sharp prong retractor

Four features, and the first is the one the pattern is known for.

• Two sharp prongs. A flap held on two points cannot rotate off the hook.
• 15 cm overall. Short. A long instrument in a nostril is mostly handle in the way.
• Fine points. A sharp prong retractor works by entering the skin edge cleanly rather than by force.
• Flat handle. Stops the prongs rolling out of plane under tension.

Cottle retractor size

One size ships from this page, and the figure is our own.

The 15 cm length is ours to state because it is on our own product record. No prong spacing is stated, because our record does not carry one. Competitor listings quote a spacing of their own and it is not repeated here. Ask and it will be measured.

Where a 2 prong nasal retractor is used

A 2 prong nasal retractor is reached for whenever a flap has to be held against real tension.

What the prongs hold, and what they do not

A sharp instrument has hard limits and they are worth stating plainly rather than leaving them to be found.

How the cottle double hook compares with the others

Four of the rows below are our own. The cottle double hook is the one in the group made for tension, and that is the whole basis for choosing between them.

Materials and finish

Made from high quality medical grade stainless steel, satin finished so the operating light does not reflect off the shank into the surgeon eye. The steel itself is made to a German specification. The points are ground and then checked against each other, because two prongs that are not the same length hold on one point, which is the fault the pattern exists to avoid.

Care and sterilization

Clean with a soft brush under running water, working between the prongs and the junction of prongs and shank where tissue collects, then rinse in deionized water and dry fully before autoclaving. Store in a rack or a tip guard so nothing rests on the points. A bent or blunted prong turns a two point hold into a one point hold without anyone noticing, so check both points against the light before the instrument goes back into the set.

Ordering a cottle retractor and wholesale

Adas Instruments makes this pattern to order at 15 cm. Buyers who search for the cottle retractor by that name will find it here under the same pattern. We supply hospitals, surgical centers and distributors across the United States, Latin America, Europe and Asia, bulk and wholesale pricing is available, and instruments held on backorder ship in 10 to 12 working days. Every instrument carries a three year replacement warranty against manufacturing defects. Certifications: CE. Production is controlled under an ISO 13485 quality management system.

Frequently asked questions

What is a cottle retractor used for?

Holding a nasal skin flap back on two sharp points during rhinoplasty and septoplasty, so the surgeon can see and work behind it. It is used wherever the flap is under enough tension that a single prong would let it rotate, and it is used on skin rather than on mucosa.

Why two prongs instead of one?

Because one point is a hinge. A flap caught on a single prong turns around it as soon as tension goes on, and the puncture becomes a tear. Two points fix the flap in its plane, spread the same pull over twice the tissue, and hold it where it was caught.

What is the difference between a skin hook and a retractor?

Where the load sits. A hook holds on one or two points and suits a skin edge. A retractor holds on a blade and spreads the load across a face, which suits a body of tissue. This pattern is a hook by construction and is cataloged as a retractor because of the job it does in a nasal set.

Can it be used on mucosa?

No. Sharp points go through mucosa rather than holding it. For a mucosal flap take a blunt ball ended pattern, which presses against the tissue and slides off before it tears anything.

How long is it?

15 cm, which is the figure on our own product record. Nothing else is stated, because nothing else is on the record, and a number the workshop cannot stand behind does not belong on a product page.

Related products and categories

Buyers who order the cottle retractor usually order alongside it the kilner alae retractor, the nasal tenaculum hook and the aufricht walter nasal retractor. The whole family sits in hooks and retractors, and this pattern is also listed under rhinoplasty instruments.