The Lone Star Retractor System In Neurosurgery

-BACKGROUND: We investigated the role of a self-retaining retractor system, commonly used in ear, abdom-inal, vascular, urologic and gynecologic surgeries: the Lone Star retractor system. We report our experience in using the Lone Star retractor in different brain surgeries, at a single neurosurgical department. -METHODS: In 2019, patients who underwent brain sur-gery and in which the Lone Star Retractor System was used were considered for inclusion. Clinical and surgical data of included patients were prospectively collected. Post-operative VAS for local pain, and a properly designed intraoperative retractor stability score, were collected. -RESULTS: Over 2019, the Lone Stare Retractor was used in 20 neurosurgical procedures: 9 high-grade glioma, 2 low-grade glioma, 4 cerebral metastases, and 5 meningiomas. Postoperative mean VAS score was 3.5 (range: 2-4). Intra-operative retractor stability score mean was 2 in frontal, 2 in pterional, 1.75 in subtemporal, 2 in interhemispheric, and 0.5 in suboccipital approaches. The Stony Brook Scar Evalua-tion Scale mean value was 4.4 (range: 3-5). -CONCLUSIONS: In our institutional experience, the Lone Star retractor showed many advantages in different brain procedures, when compared with standard fishhooks and other retractors.