What Are Suture Scissors Used For?

Suture scissors are used to remove stitches

Suture scissors are a cutting instrument most often used in health care applications. The scissors consist of two opposing blades, connected by a pivot, which slide over one another.

Function

Suture scissors are used to cut the thread-like material used to sew animal tissue together.

Types

The most common suture scissors are the straight Mayo-style, which has straight blades with partially blunted tips. Other forms are serrated blade suture scissors and long oral surgery (buck) scissors, curved scissors and side-angled scissors.

Original Purpose

Mayo straight-bladed scissors were originally designed for cutting near the surface of a wound.

Word Derivations

The word suture comes from the Latin sutura, "a sewn seam." In Latin, the verb suere is "to sew, stitch, or tack together." The word scissors is derived from the late Latin word cisorium, "cutting tool."

Alternative Name

Sutures scissors are also known as stitch scissors.

References

• Webster's New World Dictionary of the American Language, Modern Desk Edition; The World Publishing Company; 1970