Hill-Ferguson Rectal Retractor is used in rectal surgery to widen the opening to the anus and increase access to the lower rectum. The retractor features a curved blade at one end and a wider, cylindrical handle at the other.n varying forms, retractors are used to hold an incision open, hold back tissues or other objects to maintain a clear surgical field, or reach other structures. They can either be hand-held or self-retaining via a ratcheting mechanism.