SURGICAL
INSTRUMENTS
REVIEWER
By: Yzobelle D. Redondo // RTRMF BSN-III
I. Cutting and Dissecting
Function: Used to dissect, incise, separate, and excise tissues.
NAME & FUNCTION OF INSTRUMENT PICTURE OF THE INSTRUMENT
Number 10
- Rounded towards the tip
- Used to open the skin
- Used for large skin incisions
Number 11
- Linear edge with a sharp tip
- Used as initial puncture for tiny
deep incisions
Number 12
- Has a curved cutting surface like a hook
- Sometimes used as a suture cutter
- Used in procedures like:
Arteriotomies
parotid surgery
septoplasty
cleft palate procedures
EENT procedures
- Commonly used in tonsillectomy
Number 15
- Has a short rounded edge
- Used for short controlled
incisions
Number 20
- Shape is similar with number 10,
only larger
- Used in general and orthopaedic
surgeries
Other Blades & Anatomy of a Scalpel Blade:
II. Scalpels & Knives
Function: Long handles of scalpels are used for deep incisions such as open
abdominal cases
NAME & FUNCTION OF INSTRUMENT PICTURE OF THE INSTRUMENT
Scalpel 3
Scalpel 4
Scalpel 7
Beaver Knife Handle
- Used for small delicate cases
Cataract Knife
III. Scissors
Function: To cut or dissect tissues; Also used in cutting other materials
NAME & FUNCTION OF PICTURE OF THE INSTRUMENT
INSTRUMENT
Straight Mayo Scissors
- aka “Suture Scissors”
- Used to cut
suture and supplies
fascia
Curved Mayo Scissors
- Used to cut heavy tissues such
as:
Fascia
Muscle
Uterus
Breast
Metzenbaum
- Used to cut delicate tissues
Wire Scissors
- Have short heaver blades
- Used to cut stainless steel
sutures
- Used to cut bone fixation wires
Wire Sutures
Joseph Nasal Scissors
- An example of short-jaw sharp
tipped scissors
- Used in deep areas like the
nasal cavity
Bandage/Dressing Scissors
- Used to:
Cut drains & dressings
Open items like plastic
packets
Small Scissors
Tenotomy Scissors
- Used in delicate surgeries
- Commonly used in:
Ophthalmologic
Neurological
Plastic surgery
procedures
Iris Scissors
- Ideal for detailed dissection of
fine tissues
- Commonly used in:
Ophthalmologic
procedures
Anatomy of Surgical Scissors:
IV. Bone Cutters and Debulking Tools
Function:
1. For cutting into or through bone and cartilage
2. To decrease the bulk of firm tissues
NAME & FUNCTION OF PICTURE OF THE INSTRUMENT
INSTRUMENT
Chisel
- Designed to excise bone
during orthopaedic
surgical procedures
Mallet
- used in conjuction with osteotomes,
chisels and gouges to apply a
swinging force when cutting or
shaping bone.
Osteotome
- A chisel without a bevel
- Used for cutting bone
Swan Neck Gouge
Gouge
- A chisel with a concavo-
convex cross section for
removing portions of bone in
surgery.
Partsch Gouge
Rasp
- Used to assist
the surgeon's control while
performing delicate shaping
and contouring by allowing a
firm grip on the instrument.
Bone File
- Smoothing of bones
- used to elevate tissues or to
raise a sunken part, such as a
depressed fragment of bone
Rongeur
- heavy-duty surgical instrument
with a sharp-edged, scoop-
shaped tip
- used for gouging out bone
Rib/Bone Cutter & Saw
- Used to cut or remove bones
Bone Drill
- Used to:
Bore holes in bone for
the attachment
of surgical pins, plates, or
screws
Remove decay and
reshape teeth in
preparation for a filling.
Reamer
- Used to enlarge a hole
V. Other Sharp Dissectors
Function: To cut tissue apart or separate tissue layers
NAME & FUNCTION OF PICTURE OF THE INSTRUMENT
INSTRUMENT
Biopsy Forceps and
Punches
- Used to remove a small
piece of tissue for a
pathologic examination
Curette
- Tissue or bone is removed
by scraping with the sharp
edge of the loop, ring, or
scoop on the end of a
curette
Bone Curette
Uterine Curette
Snare
- Loop of wire may be placed
around a pedicle to dissect
tissue such as tonsil
- The wire cuts the pedicle as
it retracts into the instrument
- The wire is replaced after
use
Tonsil Snare
VI. A. Grasping and Holding
Function:
1. Used to grasp tissue and hold it in place without injuring surrounding tissues
2. Used to hold drapes or sponges
NAME AND FUNCTION OF PICTURE OF THE INSTRUMENT
INSTRUMENT
Kocher/Ochsner Forceps
- Used to grasp heavy tissue
- May be used as a clamp
Allis
- Each jaw slightly curves inward
- Has a row of teeth in the end
- Holds:
Intestinal Tissue
Breast Tissue
Babcock
- Each jaw is rounded to fit
around a structure or to
grasp a tissue without injury
- Used to grasp delicate
tissues such as:
Intestine
Fallopian Tube
Ovary
Ovum Forceps/Sponge Stick
- Used to grasp sponges
- Used to remove placental
fragments inside the uterus
- Used as a hemostat or a
clamping instrument
Towel Clip
- Used to hold towels and
drapes in place
Mosquito Forceps
- Used to hold delicate tissue Straight
- Used to compress a
bleeding vessel
Curved
Kelly Forceps
- Bigger than mosquito Straight
forceps
- Comes in different sizes (S,
M, Long)
- Used for clamping large
blood vessels or
manipulating heavy tissue.
Curved
Schnidtz Forceps
- Used for clamping
Mixter Forceps
- Most frequently used for
clamping, dissection, or
grasping tissue
Randall Forceps
- Used for grasping and
removing kidney stones, gall
stones, or polyps.
Vascular Clamp
- Used to clamp blood
vessels
Lahey Forceps
- used to grasp fibrous tissue.
- Often used to grasp breast tissue in
mastectomy procedures or tissue
and glands in thyroid surgeries.
VI. B. Grasping and Holding
Function:
1. Used to grasp tissue and hold it in place without injuring surrounding tissues
2. Used to hold drapes or sponges
NAME AND FUNCTION OF PICTURE OF THE INSTRUMENT
INSTRUMENT
Tissue Forceps
- Used for grasping organs and slippery
or dense tissue during electrosurgery.
- Commonly used with:
Tonsil
Vaginal
Breast
Thyroid tissue
Thumb Forceps
- Used by compression between
your thumb and forefinger and
are used for grasping, holding or
manipulating body tissue
- Used to hold or move tissue during
surgery or to move dressings.
Adson Forceps
- Used to grasp delicate tissue
- Used to grasp the skin
De Bakey Forceps
- Used to grasp delicate tissue
especially in cardiovascular
surgery
Bayonet Forceps
- For ear and nose are either serrated or
smooth.
- Used to remove sterile dressing and
have serrated edges for better grasp.
- Used to examine, grasp or extract
tissues and foreign materials from
within the ear and nasal cavities
Anatomy of a Ring-Handled Clamp:
VII. Exposing and Retracting
Function: Used for pulling aside soft tissues, muscles, and other structures, for
exposure of the surgical site
A. Manual Retractors
NAME AND FUNCITON OF PICTURE OF THE INSTRUMENT
INSTRUMENT
Deaver Retractor (Manual)
- Used to retract deep abdominal
or chest incisions
Richardson Retractor
- Used to retract deep abdominal
or chest incisions
Mayo Retractor
- Used for retracting the body
wall
- Used for holding the abdominal
cavity open.
Kelly Retractor
- Has longer blades compared to
Richardson
- Used to separate the edges of a
surgical incision or wound, or to hold
back underlying organs and tissues
so that body parts under the incision
may be accessed.
Army Navy Retractor
- Used to retract shallow or
superficial incisions
Goelet Retractor
- Used for holding back tissue
from small, superficial
incisions.
Malleable Retractor
- Used to retract deep wounds.
- Could be bended to different
shapes
Volkmann Rake Retractor
- commonly used in small bone
and joint procedures
Freeman Facelift Retractor
- Exposes dissected skin in
mammaplasty and
rhytidectomy procedures.
Harrington Sweetheart
Retractor
- Used to hold back tissue and
organs deep in the abdominal
region.
Tongue Retractor
- Used to hold mucoperiosteal
flaps, cheeks, lips,
and tongue away from the
surgical area
Skin Hooks
Senn Retractor
- Used to retract primarily surface
tissue.
- Often used in:
plastic surgery
small bone and joint
procedures
thyroidectomy
dissection of neck tissue.
B. Self-Retaining Retractors
NAME AND FUNCTION OF PICTURE OF THE INSTRUMENT
INSTRUMENT
Weitlaner Retractor
- Has curved shanks that lead to
blades that have between two and
six, sharp or blunt, outward curving
prongs.
- Used to retract shallow incisions
- Most commonly used in:
basic plastic surgery
large bone and joint
procedures,
mastoid surgeries.
Gelpi Retractor
- Ratcheted, finger ring retractor often
used in smaller surgical site or
shallow incisions
- Once the targeted tissue has been
held back, the locking mechanism
allows the retractor to remain in
place, and does not require
someone to hold it during the
procedure.
Balfour Retractor
- used in laparotomy procedure
- used for specific abdominal procedures
where the abdomen needs to be held
open for examination or evaluation,
such as:
cesarean sections
bowel resection
O’ Sullivan-O’Connor
Bookwalter Retractor
- Used to hold open abdominal
incisions
Thompson Retractor
- For cervical spine access offers secure,
table mounted solutions that prevent
shifting, or “rise up” in the incision.
- Designed to provide access and exposure
for a variety of surgical procedures
VIII. Needle Holders
Function: Used to grasp and hold curved needles; Most needle holder resemble
haemostatic forceps, but the difference is the shortness of the jaws
NAME AND FUNCTION OF PICTURE OF THE INSTRUMENT
INSTRUMENT
Webster Needle Holder
- Used with small needles and fine suture
material
- Commonly used in:
plastic surgery
subcutaneous procedures.
Crilewood Needle Holder
- Used to hold and guide small to medium
size needles and suture materials
Heaney Needle Holder
- A ratcheted, finger ring instrument used
for light to medium weight suturing
- Most commonly in gynecological
procedures such as:
vaginal and abdominal
hysterectomy
dilation and curettage.
Derf Snub-Jaw Needle Holder
- Has short jaws and delicate serrations that
hold small needles and commonly 5-0 and
6-0 sutures.
- Frequently utilized in:
Ophthalmic
Dental
Plastic procedures,
Mayo Hegar Needle Holder
- Commonly used with larger, heavier
suture needles because of its wide jaws.
Ryder Needle Holder
- Ratcheted, finger ring instrument that
features narrow jaws
- Commonly used with very small
suture needles in:
Cardiovascular
Plastic
Neurosurgical procedures
IX. Staplers
Skin Stapler
- Usually applied using a disposable stapler,
and removed with a specialized
staple remover.
Internal Anastomosis Stapler
Terminal End Stapler
