Metzenbaum scissors are surgical instruments used to cut delicate soft tissue. They were originally designed for oral surgeries but are now used in various medical procedures. They come in different lengths and can be made of stainless steel, tungsten carbide, or titanium. They are not suitable for cutting dense materials or fabrics and should not be used for anything thicker than a standard sheet of paper. They are often confused with other surgical scissors, such as Mayo scissors, but have distinct differences.
Metzenbaum scissors are a type of surgical instrument used to cut soft tissue. The tool is usually characterized by looped handles and thin, delicate blades. It is very popular in dissections and is a common tool in most school science labs, but it also has an important place in doctor’s offices and surgical tables. These types of scissors were originally designed for oral surgeries, and the handles were specifically shaped to give surgeons a better grip and more control when cutting through tissue in the mouth and gums. Today they play an important role in many different surgeries and can be a good choice wherever soft tissue in the body needs to be pulled back, supported or temporarily lifted.
Primary function
Surgery is often a more complicated science than it might seem at first glance. In most cases bodies are not opened just to reveal problems or repair damage. Modern science allows for strategic incisions and breaks in muscle and tissue walls that are as minimally invasive as possible, but this usually requires a range of different tools, each with a specific and nuanced purpose. Metzenbaum scissors are one of them. Scissors are intended for and work best on delicate soft tissue, such as that which surrounds organs and lines various cavities. They allow professionals to gently lift, shift and move tissue to reduce the chance of damage.
As a result, the tools have a fairly broad core functionality. Physicians use them in a variety of applications, including dental, obstetric, gynecological, dermatological, ophthalmological, and veterinary procedures. Students also often use them in various stages of clinical dissections to better expose various tissue levels and to expose organs without damaging them. At the same time, they’re generally not a good choice for cutting dense materials or fabrics, and shouldn’t normally be used for anything thicker than a standard sheet of paper.
Basic features
An American surgeon named Myron Metzenbaum first designed the instrument, and it is after him they are named. Dr. Metzenbaum was an oral surgeon who was looking for a way to more gently expose and cut gums during tooth extractions and other procedures. He designed the tool to fit easily in the hand and to give much more control than a scalpel or larger scissors-like instrument.
Scissors come in various lengths, but all have an equally distinctive appearance with a long handle or shaft and a shorter blade. Some are available with reusable handles and disposable tips. Right-handed and left-handed models are usually also available.
The blades can be curved or straight, but the tips are almost always blunt. Most Metzenbaum scissors range in length from 5.5 inches (about 14 cm) to 14 inches (about 35.6 cm). The so-called “baby” variants are only about 4.5 inches (about 11.4 cm) long, considerably smaller than the standard size. The size of the child usually makes them more effective for more delicate procedures, even if they are not, as their name might suggest, used primarily on newborns.
How they are made
The basic models are usually made of stainless steel, and this is the original and most traditional means of production. However, advances in the field have led to a number of other possibilities. For example, modern tools can be found with tungsten carbide cutting edges, which generally provide a finer cut and last longer than stainless steel ones. These are often easily recognizable by their gold-plated ring handles. The more expensive type is usually made from titanium.
Related tools
Most surgeons have a set of scissors-like tools at their disposal, and many look very similar to begin with. Sometimes they can be used interchangeably, but in most cases each has its own intended and distinctive purpose. Metzenbaum scissors are sometimes confused with other types of surgical scissors, especially Mayo scissors, although a closer look usually reveals some important differences. The Metzenbaum-style tool is usually a little lighter, has a longer neck, and has a slimmer centerpiece than the Mayo, for example. Mayo scissors are also often used to cut sutures. Metzenbaum could be dumbfounded by such use unless the sutures are very thin.
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