VSCT 115, Fundamental Veterinary Nursing Skills II - Instrument Identification and Use

Veterinary Surgical Instruments Flashcards

Orthopedic Surgical Instruments

Specialized and expensive instruments used to cut, scrape, shape, remove, break up bone particles, and hold fractured bones together for healing.

Periosteal Elevators

Used to remove periosteal tissue from bone.

Bone Holding Forceps

Instruments used to grasp and hold bones during surgical procedures.

Chisels & Osteotomes

Instruments used to cut or shape bone. Chisels are beveled on one side, while osteotomes are beveled on both sides.

Rongeur

Instrument used to cut small pieces of bone, cartilage, or fibrous tissue.

Intramedullary (IM) Pin

Pin placed within the medullary (marrow) cavity of a bone for fracture fixation.

Hand Chuck

Instrument that holds an IM pin and inserts it into the bone.

IM Pin Cutter

Instrument used to cut excess IM pin length after insertion.

Cerclage Wire

Wire used to wrap around and hold together bone pieces that are shattered, splintered, or frayed so the bone can heal.

External Fixators (e.g., Kirschner Apparatus)

Apparatus used for fracture fixation with pins that go through the bone and attach externally (full) or on one side (partial).

Cast Cutter

Instrument used to cut casts.

Scalpel Handle and Scalpel Blades

Handle and blades (e.g., #10, #15) used for making incisions during surgery.

Needle Holders

Instruments used to place scalpel blades, grasp and manipulate surgical needles, tie knots in suture, and cut suture.

Olsen-Hegar Needle Holders

Needle holders with a scissor combo.

Mayo-Hegar Needle Holders

Needle holders only (no scissors).

Suture Needles

Classified according to size, shape (straight, curved, half-curved), and type of point (cutting, taper), and whether they are eyed or swaged.

Eyed Suture Needle

Needle with an eye through which to thread suture; after use, dispose of suture, sterilize and reuse needle.

Swaged Suture Needle

Needle that comes attached to suture; dispose of it after use.

Retractors

Instruments that provide good visibility of the surgical site; can be hand-held or self-retaining.

Army-Navy Retractor

Hand-held retractor used to retract skin, fat, and muscle; smooth-bladed.

Weitlaner Retractor

Self-retaining retractor used to retract muscle; ratchet-locking.

Gelpi Retractor

Self-retaining retractor with a ratchet release lever.

Gosset Retractor

Self-retaining retractor.

Balfour Retractor

Retractor used to retract tissues in three directions; commonly used for abdominal incisions.

Ovariohysterectomy (OVH) Hook (Snook hook/Spay hook)

Instrument used to retrieve the uterine horn or broad ligament, and spermatic cord in abdominal cryptorchid males.

Contents of an OVH Pack

Typically includes Olsen-Hegar Needle Holders, Ferguson Angiotribes, Hemostats, OVH Hook, Rat Tooth Thumb Forceps, Brown-Adson or other Thumb Forceps, Scalpel handle, and Sterilization Indicator.