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Recurrence of adenoid lymphoid tissue after previous apparent removal can be attributed to incompleteness of the operation. This may be due not so much to lack of thoroughness on the part of the surgeon as to his inability to do a complete adenoidectomy because of inadequate exposure.
As the adenoid is hidden behind the uvula and soft palate, within the nasopharynx, the operation for its removal must of necessity be done indirectly by palpation rather than under direct vision. Often, too, when the La Force adenotome is used, the uvula may be crushed or pinched, which adds to the postoperative discomfort. Furthermore, it appears that the principles of good surgery require the removal of the adenoid to be done under direct vision, at least for the sake of hemostasis.
It was to overcome these obstacles that the instrument presented here was devised. It retracts the soft palate, exposing the adenoid