Learning Veterinary Surgical Instruments
Learning about the different veterinary surgical instruments and their uses is an essential part of academic learning for student veterinary nurses and surgeons. Here we run through the types of veterinary surgical instruments, how to clean and sterilise them, and also provide links for good revision resources.
Labelled Veterinary Surgical Instruments
Surgical instruments are hand-held tools used in operations to perform surgical tasks efficiently and precisely. Here, we’ve broken them down into four categories.
Cutting Instruments
Scalpel: usually, a handle that can have a disposable blade attached to it. It has a ribbed handle for easier gripping. Cuts achieved with a scalpel can be extremely precise and produce minimal trauma The most common types of scalpel at #3 and #4. The smaller #3 scalpel accepts blades #10, #11, #12, and #15. The larger #4 scalpel accepts blades #20 to #25.
Scissors: may be identified by the following features.
- Blade shape: straight or curved. Straight provides mechanical action with greater force, and curved provides better visibility and versatility.
- Edge type: straight or serrated. Serrated for better traction on lax or dense cartilage.
- Blade tip: sharp-sharp, sharp-blunt, blunt-blunt.
Metzenbaum, Mayo, and utility or operating scissors are generally the types used for small animal surgery.
Rongeurs: a type of forceps used to remove bone, recontour bone ends, and prepare the bone for grafting. The jaws are cupped with either straight, bent, or curved angles with blunt or tapered tips. Rongeurs have either a single or double-action closure mechanism. Selecting the type of rongeurs is determined by
- The location and proximity of adjacent tissues and structures
- The density of bone being manipulated
- The type and degree of surgical exposure
Periosteal Elevators: used to move muscle and other tissues away from the bone, periosteal elevators come with either straight or round edges.
Bone-Cutting Instruments
Chisels and osteotomes: bevelled on one side (chisels) or both (osteotomes). Both tools are used with a mallet to chip away bone to remove or reshape it.
Gouges and saws: also used to remove or reshape bone. Manual saws used in veterinary surgery include the hobby saw, and the Gigli wire saw. Power saws are also used for orthopaedic and soft tissue procedures.
Bone-Cutting Forceps: made with chisel-style tips for cutting through bone, these forceps come in a range of sizes, weights, and tip shapes similar to rongeurs.
Curettes: with a cupped end to assist with bone removal from locations with limited access. Curettes are available in a range of sizes and shapes, including a right angle.
Trephines: commonly used to extract bone samples for biopsy or to access the bone cavity, trephines are t-shaped instruments with cylinder-shaped cutting blades.
Grasping Instruments
Needle Holders: designed with cross-hatch grooves on the inside of the jaws to keep the needle firmly in place and limit twisting or sliding. Needle holders come in a variety of sizes and lengths that should be paired with appropriate needle types. Some needle holders have a catch-and-release hinge that activates with gentle pressure.
Crushing and Noncrushing Tissue Forceps: forceps come in a wide range of designs with different sizes. They may have ring handles or ridged edges for gripping hold of. Forceps may also have interlocking tips for better grip. Different kinds of forceps have different degrees of crushing (tissue trauma) ability.
Haemostatic Forceps: made with high-precision tips used to clamp blood vessels. Haemostatic forceps come in ring-handled or hinged varieties. They may be straight or curved and most have a ratchet locking mechanism.
Thumb Forceps: these have small grooves on the tips for better traction but no teeth and work by applying pressure through pinching the handles.
Towel Clamps, or ‘towel clips’, are ring-handled forceps used to affix surgical drapes to skin or sometimes surgical cables to drapes during operations. Towel clamps may be perforating or non-perforating.
Bone-Holding Forceps: with strong, long jaws, bone-holding forceps are made with multi-pointed prongs that grip bone. Varieties with serrated and toothed jaws are available.
Retractors
Hand-Held: allow the moving and manipulation of tissues in a way that permits the surgical assistant to respond and reposition them quickly and adjust tension and pressure as needed.
Self-retaining: made with a locking mechanism that keeps blades apart at a range of degrees. Self-retaining retractors are ideal for freeing up the hands of the surgeon and assistant for other tasks.
Resources for Veterinary Surgical Instruments Revision
Here is a list of prompt questions about veterinary surgical instruments for student nurses for revision.
Are you looking for a veterinary surgical instruments study guide?
Find a free copy of the Veterinary Surgical Instruments An Illustrated Guide PDF on the link below, where you can read about veterinary instruments in a lot more detail. This is a highly detailed guide with illustrations to help students of veterinary nursing learn about the uses of different surgical instruments in practice.
Limited-time Offers
Save £105 on DefibSafe 3 Cabinets
Discounts on Industry-Leading Defibrillator Cabinets
How to Clean Veterinary Surgical Instruments
Proper cleaning of surgical tools in veterinary settings is paramount to ensure the risk of infection is brought to an absolute minimum when using non-disposable tools.
There are several stages to cleaning surgical instruments veterinary technicians must follow.
- Cleaning and removal of debris
- Inspection
- Lubrication
- Sterilisation
- Storage
| Stage | Purpose | Process |
|---|---|---|
| Cleaning | Removal of body fluids, tissues, and residual dirt so the item can be properly sterilised. |
You could also use ultrasonic cleaning by cavitation. |
| Lubrication | To keep hinged instruments like scissors and forceps in good working order. | Apply a spray lubricant to all joints and hinges, opening and closing them to activate their mechanisms and get the lubricant deep into the crevices. |
| Inspection |
|
|
| Sterilisation | To reduce microorganisms to zero to prevent disease transmission. | Use an autoclave to sterilise surgical instruments.
|
| Storage | To maintain sterility until use. | Sometimes surgical instruments will be used immediately following sterilisation. Otherwise, they must be kept in sterile containers until use. A common method is the use of a peel pack. A disposable pouch that allows sterilant to penetrate to the instrument inside and keeps it sterile until use. Peel packs also allow for aseptic non-touch technique. |
Maintaining a strict cleaning veterinary surgical instruments procedure that all relevant staff are familiar with is the best way to consistently cut through the potential risk of infection and keep your equipment in excellent condition.
In our knowledge hub, we cover which veterinary cleaning products to use and provide guidance on how to manage infection control and health and safety in accordance with UK laws.
How to Clean Veterinary Surgical Instruments
Proper cleaning of surgical tools in veterinary settings is paramount to ensure the risk of infection is brought to an absolute minimum when using non-disposable tools.
There are several stages to cleaning surgical instruments veterinary technicians must follow.
- Cleaning and removal of debris
- Inspection
- Lubrication
- Sterilisation
- Storage
| Stage | Cleaning |
|---|---|
Purpose | Removal of body fluids, tissues, and residual dirt so the item can be properly sterilised. |
| Process |
You could also use ultrasonic cleaning by cavitation. |
| Stage | Lubrication |
| Purpose | To keep hinged instruments like scissors and forceps in good working order. |
| Process | Apply a spray lubricant to all joints and hinges, opening and closing them to activate their mechanisms and get the lubricant deep into the crevices. |
| Stage | Inspection |
Purpose |
|
Process |
|
Stage | Sterilisation |
Purpose | To reduce microorganisms to zero to prevent disease transmission. |
Process | Use an autoclave to sterilise surgical instruments.
|
Stage | Storage |
Purpose | To maintain sterility until use. |
Process | Sometimes surgical instruments will be used immediately following sterilisation. Otherwise, they must be kept in sterile containers until use. A common method is the use of a peel pack. A disposable pouch that allows sterilant to penetrate to the instrument inside and keeps it sterile until use. Peel packs also allow for aseptic non-touch technique. |
Maintaining a strict cleaning veterinary surgical instruments procedure that all relevant staff are familiar with is the best way to consistently cut through the potential risk of infection and keep your equipment in excellent condition.
In our knowledge hub, we cover which veterinary cleaning products to use and provide guidance on how to manage infection control and health and safety in accordance with UK laws.
Simplify Workplace First Aid
Interactive Online Guide & Downloadable Brochure
Simplify Workplace First Aid
Interactive Online Guide & Downloadable Brochure
Choose the format that works for you: check out our Workplace First Aid Interactive Online Guide or download our Workplace First Aid Brochure as an easy-to-save PDF. Both include a self-assessment, product details, pricing, and comprehensive training and support.
Please enter your details into the form below along with any questions or comments and a member of our team will be happy to provide you with more information:
