Short answer: The most common surgical scissors are Mayo (heavy tissue and sutures), Metzenbaum (delicate tissue), iris (fine work), suture or stitch scissors, and bandage scissors. Knowing the types of surgical scissors therefore helps you build the right sets.
| Scissors | Used for |
|---|---|
| Mayo, straight | Cutting sutures |
| Mayo, curved | Heavy tissue like fascia |
| Metzenbaum | Delicate tissue dissection |
| Iris | Fine, precise cutting |
| Spencer stitch | Removing sutures |
| Lister bandage | Cutting bandages safely |
| Potts-Smith / vascular | Opening vessels |
| Tenotomy | Very fine tissue, eye and plastic surgery |
Tip shapes
- Sharp/sharp, sharp/blunt or blunt/blunt
- Straight or curved
Special edges
- Tungsten carbide: longer sharpness, gold handles
- Supercut: one razor-sharp blade for very smooth cuts
FAQ
Why not use one scissor for everything? Delicate scissors get damaged on tough tissue or sutures, and heavy scissors damage delicate tissue.
Choosing between types of surgical scissors
With so many types of surgical scissors, it helps to start with the tissue. For example, Metzenbaum scissors suit delicate tissue, while Mayo scissors handle tougher fascia and sutures. Similarly, iris scissors are best for very fine work. Therefore, most general sets hold at least three patterns.
Next, choose the tip shape. Sharp tips cut precisely, blunt tips protect tissue, and curved blades help with dissection. In addition, supercut or tungsten carbide edges stay sharp for longer. As a result, the surgeon gets a cleaner cut with less effort.
The Metzenbaum scissors article describes one of the most common patterns. To order all types of surgical scissors, request a quote.
Scissors from Tata Surgical
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