1. Cutting and Dissecting Instruments

• Scalpels and Blades: For making precise incisions through the scalp and soft tissues.

• Periosteal Elevator (e.g., Molt, Freer): Used to lift and separate the periosteum from the skull surface.

• Rongeurs (Kerrison, Leksell): For nibbling and enlarging bone openings.

• Bone Chisel and Mallet: Used to create initial bone cuts when power tools are unavailable.

• Bone File / Rasp: Smoothens rough bone edges after bone removal.

2. Bone-Cutting and Drilling Instruments

• Hudson Brace and Burr Set: A manual or powered drill used to create burr holes in the skull.

• Craniotome (Electric or Manual): For cutting between burr holes to lift the bone flap.

• Gigli Saw with Handles: A flexible wire saw used for controlled bone cutting.

• Penfield Dissector Set: Used for delicate dissection around dura and bone edges.

3. Retracting and Exposing Instruments

• Scalp Retractors (Adson, Weitlaner): Hold back the scalp and soft tissues.

• Dura Hook and Retractor: Used to lift and protect the dura mater during bone work.

• Brain Spatulas / Retractors (Leyla, Greenberg): For gently retracting brain tissue without causing injury.

4. Hemostatic Instruments

• Hemostatic Forceps (Mosquito, Kelly, Crile): To control bleeding from scalp and bone edges.

• Raney Clips and Applier: Used along the scalp incision to prevent bleeding from skin edges.

• Bone Wax: Applied to exposed bone surfaces to control oozing from diploic veins.

5. Holding and Grasping Instruments

• Towel Clamps (Backhaus): Secure drapes and skin edges.

• Tissue Forceps (Adson, DeBakey): Handle delicate tissues.

• Needle Holders (Mayo-Hegar, Castroviejo): For suturing scalp and dura.

6. Dural and Brain Instruments

• Dural Scissors: For opening the dura mater safely.

• Dural Hook: Helps lift and manipulate the dura during incision.

• Aneurysm Clips and Applicator (Optional): Used in vascular neurosurgery to control bleeding from cerebral vessels.

7. Miscellaneous Instruments

• Suction Tubes (Frazier, Yankauer): For clearing blood and fluids from the operative site.

• Bipolar Forceps: Used with an electrosurgical unit for coagulation with minimal thermal spread.

• Irrigation Cannula and Syringe: For cleaning and cooling the surgical area.

• Stainless Steel Basin / Sterilizing Box: For organizing and sterilizing instruments.

A reusable diathermy pencil, also known as an electrosurgical handpiece, is a precision instrument used in operating theatres to cut, coagulate, desiccate, or fulgurate tissue by delivering high-frequency electrical current from an electrosurgical generator to the surgical site.

It is designed for multiple sterilization cycles, offering both economy and reliability for surgical teams.

A Disposable Diathermy Plate (also known as a diathermy grounding pad or patient return electrode) is a single-use medical device used in electrosurgical procedures to safely return the electrical current from the patient’s body back to the diathermy (electrosurgical) unit. It ensures safe dispersion of the current, preventing burns or injury during surgical cauterization or tissue cutting.