Stevens Scissors, Razor Edge, 11.5 cm to 15.5 cm

What are Stevens scissors?

Stevens scissors are small dissecting scissors, 11.5 cm to 15.5 cm, with slim tapered blades, a rounded blunt tip and a razor honed edge, used for cutting and spreading tissue too fine for a general operating scissor. The pattern came out of ophthalmic tenotomy work and is now a standard on plastic, hand, paediatric and micro trays. Adas Instruments manufactures it in Sialkot from German surgical stainless steel, curved or straight, in a standard razor edge or with tungsten carbide inserts.

What the razor edge changes

• A honed edge, not a ground one. A standard blade is ground to a symmetrical wedge. A razor edge is honed to a much finer angle, so it parts thin tissue instead of pressing it flat first.
• It matters most on mobile tissue. Loose skin, conjunctiva and thin fascia slide away from a blunt edge. This is where surgeons notice the difference.
• Tungsten carbide for volume. The TC razor edge holds its sharpness several times longer. Worth it if these Stevens scissors are on most lists, not worth it for occasional use.
• Blunt tip, sharp edge. The tip stays rounded so the closed blades can be pushed through a plane safely. The cutting happens on the edge, not the point.
• Made, not resold. Forged, hand honed and inspected in our own workshop.

Clinical applications

Size chart

Curved Stevens scissors are the usual first purchase, because the blades follow the tissue and the tips stay visible while you cut. Straight Stevens scissors give a squarer cut in a flat field. If the tray already carries a curved pair, straight is the sensible second.

Blade options

Technical specifications

Care and sterilisation

A Stevens scissors razor edge is finer than a standard grind and it dulls faster if it is used on the wrong thing.

• Never cut suture with these Stevens scissors. One pass through nylon costs more edge than a whole case of tissue. Keep a suture scissor on the tray.
• Rinse in cool water immediately so blood does not dry on the blades.
• Clean ultrasonically with a neutral pH detergent. Do not scrub the tips with a brush.
• Lubricate the box joint with instrument milk before every autoclave cycle.
• Autoclave at 134 C for 3 minutes and dry fully before storage.
• Store with tip guards fitted. A 15.5 cm blade bends under a heavier instrument.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Stevens scissors and iris scissors?

Iris scissors have short straight blades with sharp points, made for cutting. Stevens scissors have longer tapered blades and a blunt tip, so they spread a tissue plane as well as cut it. Most fine trays carry both.

Curved or straight?

Curved for dissection, because the blades follow the tissue and the tips stay in view. Straight for a squarer cut in a flat field. If you buy one pair, buy curved.

Is the tungsten carbide version worth the difference?

If the instrument is used in most lists, yes. Carbide holds the honed edge several times longer than steel. For occasional use the standard razor edge is better value.

Which size do most surgeons order?

14 cm. It suits the majority of fine soft tissue work. 11.5 cm is the choice for eyelid, digit and paediatric cases.

Can I order these under my own brand?

Yes. We manufacture for distributors and hospital groups and laser mark your brand, catalogue number and regulatory details on request.

Related instruments

Browse the full plastic surgery scissors range, or the wider plastic surgery instruments catalogue.

• Stevens Tenotomy Scissors, the longer bladed version of the same pattern for spreading a plane.
• Castroviejo Micro Scissors, when the work moves under a microscope.
• Metzenbaum Scissors Razor Edge, the same honed edge in a full size dissecting instrument.