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Volkmann Instruments

The Volkmann pattern is the classic hand-held rake retractor — a row of curved prongs on a flat handle, used to hold back skin, fascia and muscle at the wound edge while the surgeon works. It is one of the most widely used retractors in orthopaedic, trauma and general surgical trays, and it is named after Richard von Volkmann, the nineteenth-century German surgeon.

This collection brings together every Volkmann instrument in our catalog: the full graduated range of rake retractors across two lengths and four tooth profiles, plus the Volkmann bone curettes. Individual practices can order any instrument directly. Hospital procurement teams, distributors and buyers working to a tender or RFQ can contact our team for bulk pricing and quoted line items.

Filters

  • Volkmann Double-Ended Curette 13cm
    $56.59 - $56.59
    $56.59
    $56.59 - $56.59
    $56.59

    Volkmann Double-Ended Curette 13cm

    Volkmann double-ended curette, 13cm overall length, with two opposing oval cups. German surgical-steel construction; intended for general and ortho...

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    $56.59 - $56.59
    $56.59
    $56.59 - $56.59
    $56.59
  • Volkmann Bone Curette 17cm Fig. 0-6
    $74.39 - $74.39
    $74.39
    $74.39 - $74.39
    $74.39

    Volkmann Bone Curette 17cm Fig. 0-6

    Volkmann bone curette with a 17cm overall length, used to scrape and remove bone tissue, granulation tissue, and debris during orthopedic and gener...

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    $74.39 - $74.39
    $74.39
    $74.39 - $74.39
    $74.39
  • Volkmann Bone Curette 17cm Fig. 0000-00
    $74.39 - $74.39
    $74.39
    $74.39 - $74.39
    $74.39

    Volkmann Bone Curette 17cm Fig. 0000-00

    Volkmann bone curette with a 17cm overall length, used to scrape and remove bone tissue, granulation tissue, and debris during orthopedic and gener...

    View full details
    $74.39 - $74.39
    $74.39
    $74.39 - $74.39
    $74.39

What This Collection Covers

  • Rake retractors, 21.5cm — 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 teeth in blunt, semi-sharp, pointed and sharp profiles
  • Rake retractors, 11.5cm — 2, 3, 4 and 6 teeth in blunt and pointed profiles, for shallower or smaller fields
  • Short-blade retractors, 23mm — blunt and sharp
  • Bone curettes, 17cm — Fig. 0000-00 and Fig. 0-6 cup sizes
  • Double-ended curette, 13cm — two working cups on one handle

Blunt, Semi-Sharp, Pointed or Sharp?

This is the choice that matters most, and it is decided by the tissue you are holding, not by preference.

Blunt prongs are rounded. They spread load over a wider contact area and are the safe default next to skin, bowel, vessels and any structure you do not want to perforate.

Semi-sharp prongs are the middle ground — enough bite to hold fascia and dense soft tissue without the tendency of a sharp tip to pierce and tear.

Pointed and sharp prongs grip tough, fibrous tissue and thick fascia that a blunt rake simply slides off. They should not be placed against delicate structures.

How to Choose

Tooth count. More teeth spread the retracting force over a longer span and hold a wider wound edge open evenly. Fewer teeth concentrate force and reach into a narrower opening. A 1- or 2-tooth rake is for a small incision or a corner; a 6-tooth rake is for holding a long wound edge.

Length. 21.5cm reaches into a deeper field and keeps the assistant's hand clear of the operative site. 11.5cm gives more direct control in a shallow or confined field and is the usual choice in paediatric, hand and small-part surgery.

Curette cup size. Fig. numbering runs smallest to largest. Smaller cups suit fine curettage in confined bone; larger cups clear cancellous bone and cavity contents faster.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Volkmann retractor used for?
Holding back the wound edge — skin, subcutaneous tissue, fascia or muscle — so the operative field stays open and visible. It is hand-held, so an assistant controls the amount and direction of retraction continuously, unlike a self-retaining retractor.

What is the difference between a Volkmann retractor and a Weitlaner?
Both have rake-style prongs. The Volkmann is hand-held with a single flat handle. The Weitlaner is self-retaining, with a ratchet that holds the wound open without an assistant.

How many teeth should I choose?
Match the tooth span to the length of wound edge you need held. 1–2 teeth for a small incision or corner, 3–4 for a standard approach, 6 for a long wound edge that must open evenly.

What is a Volkmann bone curette used for?
Scraping and removing cancellous bone, granulation tissue and cyst or cavity contents. The graduated Fig. sizes let you match the cup to the size of the cavity.

Do you supply these individually or as sets?
Individually — every instrument here can be ordered on its own. For a full retractor set, send us your list and our team will quote it line by line, with bulk pricing for distributors and hospital procurement.

Related categories: surgical retractors, surgical curettes, rongeurs, surgical forceps and surgical scissors.