Discovering in the operating room that your instruments or scissors do not cut would be frustrating for anyone. Precision sharpness is an absolute prerequisite for any surgical procedure.
The best strategy is a proactive approach with an established routine; inspections, regular surgical instrument sharpness testing, and maintaining a sharpening schedule that works best within the facility.
Those instruments which require sharpening most often include:
- Surgical Scissors
- Bone Cutters
- Osteotomes
- Rongeurs
- Chisels
- Bone Curettes
- Knives
- Punches
- Dental Instruments
It’s important to maintain the sharpness of your surgical instruments. Cutting devices should be sharpened every 6-8 months. Developing a schedule for testing the sharpness of your surgical scissors is a necessary routine for all veterinary hospitals and facilities.
It’s important to maintain the sharpness of your surgical instruments. Cutting devices should be sharpened every 6-8 months. Developing a schedule for testing the sharpness of your surgical scissors is a necessary routine for all veterinary hospitals and facilities.
When in doubt, roll it out! Sharpness Test Material is a handy item to keep around the office in between your bi-annual sharpening. Typically instrument sharpening test material contains latex, however, latex-free test material is also available. Using the test material every couple of weeks can help you know for sure that your blades are working at their best, and could help prevent a dull scissor getting used in a major pack.
