There are several types of surgical scissors. Some have tungsten carbide reinforcements along their cutting edges, which help manufacturers create sharper and more durable blades.
Surgical scissors are used to cut sutures, dressings and dissect biological tissue during surgery. They are typically made of high-grade medical stainless steel with tungsten carbide reinforcements.
Surgical Scissors
Surgical scissors are used to cut sutures and other biological tissues. They are usually made from surgical steel, which provides sharp edges and durability. Some have tungsten carbide reinforcements along the cutting edge.
They are available in a variety of sizes and shapes, including straight and curved. They are commonly used in oral and maxillofacial surgery, neurosurgery, ophthalmic surgery, and other specialties.
A common mistake when using surgical scissors is to cut sutures with them. They can quickly dull, become nicked, or mispositioned, and you might not be able to see the knots that you are cutting.
You should also be aware that the sharpness of a scissor’s cutting edge can change over time, creating pits or gaps in the surface, which will make them blunt faster. This can lead to a decrease in cutting precision and increase the risk of injuries.
Another common mistake is to use scissors that are not suitable for the material being cut. This can cause the tissue to become clasped instead of cut. In this situation, the wound will not heal properly.
Other surgical scissors include Metzenbaums, which are frequently slightly curved and can be used for fine dissection; Iris scissors, which are finer and sharper than Metzenbaums; and Potts scissors, which are angled and most frequently used to cut into vascular structures.
Several of these scissors can be found in the operating room, but most surgeons have a favorite pair they use most often. For example, ophthalmic surgeons use Westcott scissors 4″ for eyelid stitches removal and Iris scissors 4 1/2″ for removing ocular sutures.
The most important thing to remember when using surgical scissors is that they should be held with the thumb and index or middle finger. This prevents the tip from swinging out of position and reducing control.
One blade of certain suture-removal scissors has a tiny hook that can go underneath the sutures to elevate them just a little bit before cutting. This helps prevent the sutures from slipping under the lower blade during cutting and causing an injury. Other types of suture-removal scissors have slit blades that are shaped to fit the thorax and the upper arm so they can fit into the skin between the stitches. Some also have a notch on one blade that makes it easy to grasp the loop of a suture before cutting it.
Stitch Scissors
Surgical scissors are an instrument used for cutting or dissection of tissues in various parts of the body. The blades of these instruments are hinged together, and they have ring handles to allow the surgeon to grip them comfortably. The shank of the scissors is the body between the ring handles and the hinge, and it can be long or short.
The length of the blade is a critical factor when choosing the appropriate scissors for your surgery. The longer the blade, the deeper into the cavity it can cut. It is also important to ensure that the blade is not too long to obscure the suture knot, which can cause a mistake when cutting.
Another important factor is the material of the blades. Some blades are made of stainless steel, while others are made of tungsten carbide (TC), up to five times harder than stainless steel and can last much longer.
Other types of scissors include Iris scissors, Metzenbaum scissors, mayo scissors, Westcott scissors, tenotomy scissors probe scissors, and more. Metzenbaum scissors are particularly designed to allow smooth movement of the blades without damaging the skin during bandage cutting. They are often used for ophthalmic surgery.
Iris scissors are specially designed for excising lesions in the iris of the eye. They are usually sharp and have a small tip for precise cuts.
Tenotomy scissors are available in a variety of sizes and can be straight or curved. The blunt blade helps to reduce the risk of cutting into the tendons or ligaments during dissection.
When the blade is inserted between the skin and the bandage, Lister bandage scissors have a broad bottom blade with a blunt nodule at the tip that helps to lessen the risk of harm. They are also sturdy and durable.
The blades of these scissors are color coated to help the surgeon better identify them. They also have curved patterns on the lower blades to help carry out the stitch removal process smoothly. They are valuable stitch scissors for cutting heavy sutures.
Disposable Scissors
Surgeons use surgical scissors to cut tissue during an operation. These instruments come in various tip-varying, curvatures configurations (blunt, sharp,, or sharp/blunt),, and multiple lengths. They can be used for general cutting and dissection purposes or for specific tasks such as cutting sutures, tubing, or gauze.
Traditionally, scissor blades are made of metal that is molded or machined. Using disposable scissor parts is a less expensive alternative to traditional all-metal scissor components. However, the handles are usually made of flexible material that is difficult to use for satisfactory cutting action.
Some disposable scissors are designed with a semi-rigid handle that is frictionally attached to the scissor elements. These handles are made from a variety of materials such as polyolefins, rubber, substituted aromatic hydrocarbons, phenol-formaldehyde condensation products, and the like.
One type of disposable scissors is designed to be used for removing surgical bandages or sutures. These scissors are available in different sizes and have special finger openings to help with removing the surgical bandage or suture.
These scissors are also designed to be discarded after use, which allows for a safer environment and reduced waste. They are able to be disposed of in the same manner as regular hospital waste.
There is a large variety of surgical scissors to choose from, including Mayo scissors and Metzenbaum scissors. Mayo scissors are often referred to as āsuture scissorsā because they have semi-blunt ends ideal for cutting body tissues near the surface of a wound.
The blades of Metzenbaum scissors are made from stainless steel and can be shaped to meet the needs of surgeons. These scissors are generally used to cut or remove sutures and can be molded into several variations to fit different surgeonsā preferences.
Regardless of the type of disposable scissors, medical professionals should always consider their patient’s health and safety before deciding which one to purchase. For example, they should never use curved scissors on an ostomy patient because they could damage the skin. This could lead to infection and other complications, thereby detracting from the success of the surgery.
Reusable Scissors
Surgical scissors are designed for cutting and dissecting tissues in the human body. They are used for cutting skin, tissues, dressings, bandages, and even for stitches removal.
They have curved or straight blades with sharp edges for excellent cutting action. There are different types of surgical scissors, and every type is designed to meet the specific needs of medical practitioners.
The curved blades are usually sharper and longer than the upper blade, allowing the surgeon to cut the sutures easily. This helps the patient heal quickly and reduces the number of cuts made.
A good pair of surgical scissors has a strong grip and is comfortable to hold. They are also rust-free and easy to sterilize.
Another essential instrument for any surgeon is the littler suture carrying forceps, which feature small holes in the blades that allow the surgeon to pass suture material through them. This makes the entire process of cutting sutures and suturing less stressful for the surgeon, thereby reducing operational time.
These instruments are reusable and can be disinfected in the sterilizer. They are fully autoclavable, making them a great choice for hospitals and clinics.
Many reusable surgical scissors are available on the market, including the New-Med Littler Plastic Surgery Suture Scissors and ECCO Littauer Jr. Stitch Scissors.
The lower blades of these suture scissors are hooked, which means they easily slip under the stitches when it comes time to remove them. They are versatile tools that can be used to remove stitches from different areas of the body, including eyelids.
They are available in different variations and have medical-grade stainless steel material. They are a great choice for general surgery and gynecology.
In addition, they have a variety of other uses and can be purchased in bulk. They are also used for IUD insertion and removal.
A screening LCA and sensitivity analysis were conducted to assess the environmental impacts and total cost of ownership (TCO) of three surgical scissors. The results revealed that a reusable stainless-steel product was significantly more eco-efficient than disposable plastic scissors and was cost-effective under the assumed case study parameters.