Patent ID: 6368271
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
A method of performing surgery on a shoulder joint using at least one support arm attached to a retractor support apparatus, the shoulder joint includes a glenoid cavity, a humerus and a humeral ball attached to the humerus and positioned within the glenoid cavity, the method comprising:incising a patient to expose the shoulder joint; dislocating the humeral ball from the glenoid cavity; mounting a proximal end of a humerus retractor on the one support arm wherein the humerus retractor comprises a humerus retractor blade at a distal end; positioning the humerus retractor about the humerus; and retracting the humeral ball laterally away from the glenoid cavity with a mechanical mechanism of the humerus retractor thereby providing access to the glenoid cavity and the humeral ball.