Metzenbaum scissors are surgical scissors designed for cutting delicate tissue and blunt dissection. The scissors come in variable lengths and have a relatively high shank-to-blade ratio. They are constructed of stainless steel and may have tungsten carbide cutting surface inserts. The blades can be curved or straight, and the tips are usually blunt. This is the most common type of scissors used in organ-related operations.

Etymology

The name Metzenbaum derives from the designer, Myron Firth Metzenbaum (1 April 1876 – 25 January 1944), an American surgeon who specialized in oral and reconstructive surgery.^[1] They are also occasionally referred to as Metzenbaum or Metzenbaum–Lahey forceps.