LAMINA SPREADER

Indications & Use

• • Laminectomy and Laminotomy: To spread the vertebral lamina, creating a wider surgical corridor for the removal of bone spurs, thickened ligaments, or accessing the spinal canal.
• • Spinal Decompression: Used during foraminotomies or microdiscectomies to safely separate bony structures and relieve pressure on the spinal cord or exiting nerve roots.
• • Spinal Fusion (e.g., PLIF, TLIF): To distract the disc space between adjacent vertebrae prior to the preparation and insertion of interbody bone grafts, cages, or artificial disc replacements.
• • Joint Distraction: Applied in general orthopedic surgeries to separate small articular surfaces (such as in the knee, foot, or ankle) to improve visibility, assess cartilage, or facilitate joint repairs.
• • Fracture Reduction: Occasionally utilized to gently pry apart or hold impacted bone fragments in place during complex open fracture realignments.
• • Associated Clinical Conditions
• • Spinal stenosis (cervical, thoracic, or lumbar)
• • Degenerative disc disease (DDD)
• • Herniated, bulging, or ruptured discs
• • Spondylolisthesis
• • Radiculopathy or sciatica (nerve root impingement)
• • Scoliosis and other spinal deformities requiring structural correction

Care & Sterilisation

Cleaning & Decontamination Rinse the instrument immediately after use with warm water to prevent blood, saline, and biological debris from drying in the ratchet mechanism or jaw serrations. Clean the spreader in a fully open position to ensure all hinges, box locks, and crevices are exposed to cleaning agents. Use only pH-neutral enzymatic detergents. Strictly avoid bleach, chlorine, or highly acidic/alkaline solutions, which can cause pitting, corrosion, or stress fracturing of the stainless steel. Utilize soft-bristled nylon brushes for manual cleaning. Never use steel wool or abrasive pads that can damage the anti-glare finish. Sterilization The instrument is fully autoclavable. Standard steam sterilization is recommended at 134°C (273°F) for 3 to 5 minutes using a pre-vacuum cycle. Always sterilize the instrument in the unlocked (open) position. Locking the ratchet during sterilization prevents steam from reaching all surfaces and can cause thermal expansion stress, eventually cracking the hinge. Inspection & Maintenance Apply a water-soluble, surgical-grade instrument lubricant (instrument milk) directly to the hinge, box lock, and ratchet mechanism after every cleaning and prior to sterilization. Never use industrial oils. Routinely inspect the working tips (teeth or serrations) under magnification for dulling, burrs, bending, or structural damage. Test the ratchet mechanism manually before each procedure to ensure it engages securely at each step and releases smoothly without catching or binding.