List of Basic Surgical Instruments and their

Uses

Importance of Surgical Instruments

A surgery cannot be carried out without medical tests and tools. There are a variety of surgical
instruments, each designed for a specific purpose. Some are used for making an incision while others
are made to hold tissues. Using them correctly is necessary to prevent any irreversible damage to the
internal organs of the body.

Basic Surgical Instruments and Their Uses

 Scalpel
 Surgical Staples
 Surgical Suture
 Hemostat
 Dilator
 Scissors
 Curette
 Forceps
 Retractors
 Surgical Elevator
 Probe
 Needle Holder
Scalpel

This is a surgical knife that comes with a sharp stainless steel blade. Whether it is a minor or a major
surgery, a correct surgical incision is a must, which is not possible without a scalpel. Each and every
surgery has its own specific needs. For instance, a minor surgery will require a small incision whereas
a major surgery may demand an incision deep into the skin tissues. So taking this into consideration,
scalpels are manufactured in a variety of sizes. The blades of scalpel are detachable and many times
this instrument is designed for one time use only.
Hemostat

During any surgical procedure, some amount of bleeding is there for sure. A slight incision here and
there is followed by bleeding. In order to prevent any sort of major complications, the surgeon often
uses a hemostat. This is a clamp-like surgical tool that is utilized to constrict a blood vessel, which
helps to minimize or stop the flow of blood during any surgical procedure.
A clamp is used on vessels to stop bleeding. Many sizes and types are available. In a general
surgical tray, the clamps are used for small vessels. Larger vessels require specialized clamps that
will not crush the artery or vein. Clamps are also known as hemostats.
Retractors
When an incision is made, it has to be kept open during surgery. This job of keeping the incision wide
open is done by retractors. These instruments are used to pull back the tissues so that the surgeon
can easily access the operation site and perform the surgery without any hindrance. Sometimes even
the organs have to be held back using retractors, so as to expose the surgical site to the desired
level. Retractors are made available in different sizes and shapes. Also, there are different types of
retractors and each one is designed to retract a specific organ. For instance, lung retractors may be
used to push aside the lungs gently for getting an unobstructed view of the surgical site. So, be it a
gallbladder surgery or a breast reduction surgery, it cannot be done without retractors.
Retractors hold organs and tissue away from the surgical site so that the surgeon can see clearly and
have room to operate. A general surgical tray will have about seven different sizes and types of
retractors. Some retractors are self-retaining, or hands-free. These retractors can lock into position so
that the surgeon and assistant have their hands free to work.
Scissors

This surgical instrument is mainly used to cut body tissues. Scissors used in surgery come in two
main types: Mayo and Metzenbaum scissors. When it comes to cutting or dissecting soft delicate
tissues, surgeons prefer the metzenbaum scissors. The Mayo scissors are used for cutting hard
tissues such as joints. Thick tissues located in the breast and the muscles can also be cut using
Mayo scissors. Usually, these scissors are made up of stainless steel and are manufactured in
variable lengths.
Forceps

This instrument looks like tweezers, and is used to grasp tissue for suturing or to hold it out of the
way. There are many versions and sizes used in all types of surgery. Some of the "holding" forceps
look more like a clamp, but have a shape at the end that can grasp tissue or small vessels.
Curette
This surgical tool resembling to a spoon is used for taking out unwanted tissue from internal body
cavities. Using the tool, the surgeon simply scrapes to scoop out the abnormal tissue. Cleaning
procedure such as removing cancer growth may require use of curette.
Needle Holders
These instruments are used to hold the needles to which sutures are attached. They range from 24
inches to just a couple of inches in length, depending on the type of surgery for which they're needed.