A surgical retractor comprising: a pair of pivotable armatures (102, 106) movable in opposite arcuate directions from a closed position to an open position, each pivotable armature terminating on a posterior end in a worm gear (210, 212); the surgical retractor further comprising: a body supporting the pair of pivotable armatures; and a handle connected to the body comprising: a first rotary actuator coupled to a worm drive mechanism, wherein a rotation of the first rotary actuator is configured to move the pair of pivotable armatures in the opposite arcuate directions through interaction between the worm drive mechanism and the worm gear of each pivotable armature; the surgical retractor characterized by further comprising: a translatable armature including a lead nut coupled to a posterior end of the translatable armature; wherein the body also supports the translatable armature; and wherein the handle further comprises: a second rotary actuator coupled via a shaft passing through the first rotary actuator and the worm drive mechanism to a lead screw engaging the lead nut, wherein a rotation of the second rotary actuator is configured to translate the translatable armature in a linear direction. a pair of pivotable armatures (102, 106) movable in opposite arcuate directions from a closed position to an open position, each pivotable armature terminating on a posterior end in a worm gear (210, 212); the surgical retractor further comprising: a body supporting the pair of pivotable armatures; and a handle connected to the body comprising: a first rotary actuator coupled to a worm drive mechanism, wherein a rotation of the first rotary actuator is configured to move the pair of pivotable armatures in the opposite arcuate directions through interaction between the worm drive mechanism and the worm gear of each pivotable armature; a body supporting the pair of pivotable armatures; and a handle connected to the body comprising: a first rotary actuator coupled to a worm drive mechanism, wherein a rotation of the first rotary actuator is configured to move the pair of pivotable armatures in the opposite arcuate directions through interaction between the worm drive mechanism and the worm gear of each pivotable armature; a first rotary actuator coupled to a worm drive mechanism, wherein a rotation of the first rotary actuator is configured to move the pair of pivotable armatures in the opposite arcuate directions through interaction between the worm drive mechanism and the worm gear of each pivotable armature; a translatable armature including a lead nut coupled to a posterior end of the translatable armature; wherein the body also supports the translatable armature; and wherein the handle further comprises: a second rotary actuator coupled via a shaft passing through the first rotary actuator and the worm drive mechanism to a lead screw engaging the lead nut, wherein a rotation of the second rotary actuator is configured to translate the translatable armature in a linear direction. a second rotary actuator coupled via a shaft passing through the first rotary actuator and the worm drive mechanism to a lead screw engaging the lead nut, wherein a rotation of the second rotary actuator is configured to translate the translatable armature in a linear direction.