Drape crimping: a novel technique for retracting skin flaps

Elasticated retractors such as Lone star or Robsons have become established in various surgical subspecialties.1–4 The advantages over traditional techniques (e.g. sutures, fixed metal retractors) are that they are kept out of the surgical field and can be easily adjusted throughout the procedure. This prevents hampering of the surgeon’s movements, maintains tension on the surgical site and is beneficial to wound healing through placing tension on the base, rather than apex, of the skin flap. Elasticated retractors can, however, pull the drapes forward, loosening tension and obscuring the operative area. Occasionally, bulky self-retainers are used to attach the elasticated retractors, but these are both costly and increase the set-up time for the operation.3,4 The technique described here was devised by the senior author to solve this problem without these additional financial or operative time implications