Surgery and Radiology Section

CUTTING INSTRUMENTS

Cutting Instruments: used to incise a tissue

Scalpel It is a primary cutting instrument employed in surgery. Single piece scalpel was used earlier where there is single blade to a required configuration. The cutting edge dulled rapidly and with repeated sharpening become misshapen. To avoid this disadvantage, BARD PARKER HANDLES with detachable bladed were developed. In veterinary Practice, No:3 and No:4 handles are used in small and large animal surgery. Blades are available in various sizes and shapes.
Bard – Parker Blade and Handle No:4 handles – Accommodate blades of No: 20 to No:25 No:3 handles – Accommodate blades of No: 10 to No:15
Syme's abscess knife Used for Lancing an abscess.
Tenotomy knife Used for tendon surgeries to cut the tendons. This instrument is mostly used in horses

Scissors

Scissors are broadly classified as

• Operating scissors
• Suture scissors and suture removal scissors
• Cast cutting scissors/shears

Parts of scissors (Hinged instruments)

• Box lock pin, Box lock
• Grasping surface/Blade
• Shaft/Shank
• Ring handle
• Ratchet

Operating scissors

• They are used for cutting and dissecting tissue during surgery

• They are classified into

Mayo scissors They are sturdy having shaft and blade of almost same length. They are used to cut connective tissues and tough fascia. Metzenbaum scissors They have comparatively longer shaft than blade. They are delicate and are used for dissection of finer tissue. The surgeon must hold the scissors with the ring finger, and thumb inserted in the rings of scissors with the index finger guiding the scissors by its placement on the shaft.
Suture scissors Used to cut heavy suture material. They are short and heavy and have serrated blades. The design permits use on heavy suture material or wire. Eg: Beebe wire cutting scissors.
Suture removal scissors Lighter in weight and have a sharp curve point for introduction below the suture. The cutting surface of one blade is hollowed out to prevent the suture from being lifted excessively during suture removal.
Bandage scissors They are equipped with a flattened blunt tip on the lower blade. The tip is introduced under the bandage without endangering the skin. Eg: LISTER bandage cutting scissors.
Cast cutting scissors and shears They are used for cutting thin layers of plaster. Eg: STILLE Plaster shear, ANGEL/ENGEL Plaster saw.