Mayo Scissor

Mayo Scissor Type

Straight- and curved-blade varieties of Mayo scissors exist, each of which is particularly suited to specific surgical, including veterinary and podiatric surgery applications.

Mayo scissors have semi-blunt ends, a feature that distinguishes them from most other surgical scissors. Metzenbaum scissors are, however, similar in that the ends are the same on both scissor halves, but its handles are longer and its middle section is slightly narrower.

Straight-bladed Mayo scissors are designed for cutting body tissues near the surface of a wound. As straight-bladed Mayo scissors are also used for cutting sutures, they are also referred to as "suture scissors".

Curved-bladed Mayo scissors allow deeper penetration into the wound than the type with straight blades. The curved style of Mayo scissor is used to cut thick tissues such as those found in the uterus, muscles, breast, and foot. Mayo scissors used for dissection are placed in tissue with the tips closed. The scissors are then opened so that the tips open and spread out the tissue during the dissection process.