Spine surgeries demand a high degree of precision, accuracy, and delicate handling of the spinal cord and vertebrates. One medical surgical instrument has been enabling spine and neurosurgeons to effectively perform complex procedures with the utmost precision for over 100 years now – the Kerrison punch – a truly remarkable surgical instrument.
Kerrison punch was originally developed by Philip D. Kerrison over 100 years ago for otology procedures to remove bones overlaying the descending portions of facial nerves in chronic suppurative otitis media treatment. Earlier, chisels and hammers were used to go outside-in which had a risk of damaging the facial
nerve and causing face paralysis. The Kerrison punch changed the approach to inside-out instead, protecting the facial nerve. Over the years, this instrument was adopted for spinal surgeries.
Today, Kerrison punches are indispensable parts of every spine surgeon’s toolkit. Kerrison punch is a medical surgical instrument that has helped revolutionize the way bones are accessed, manipulated, and removed by surgeons during intricate and complex spine procedures. It is a versatile, precise, and effective tool that helps ensure safer spine procedures, improve patient outcomes, minimize collateral damage, and enable
faster healing.
In this blog, we will delve deeper into the world of surgical precision powered by Kerrison punches.
Kerrison Punch: An Overview
Kerrison punch is a precise bone-cutting device that is widely used in spinal and neurosurgery. These bone punches are specialized surgical instruments that enable surgeons to remove/ bite off small fragments of bones and other hard tissues in an extremely delicate and precise manner, minimizing trauma to surrounding structures and soft tissues. In doing so, they enable surgeons to access the surgical site in spinal procedures.
Kerrison bone punches leverage the inside-out approach, enabling surgeons to precisely cut through the bones without having to exert too much pressure. This helps minimize surgeon fatigue and pain during surgeries, while reducing the operating time significantly.
Kerrison punches are typically made using surgery-grade stainless steel. They consist of the following parts:
Handle: The handle of Kerrison punches typically has an ergonomic design that provides a comfortable grip for the surgeon while allowing precise control, maneuverability, and manipulation. These handles are designed to act as an extension of the surgeon’s hand and enable them to navigate the human anatomy and manipulate bones as per the needs of the surgery effectively and precisely.
Shaft: Kerrison bone punches have long and slender shafts to reach deep into the surgical site. They come in varying configurations to meet different surgical needs. Depending upon the Kerrison punch sizes and models, the shaft size, angles, and lengths vary.
Punch Tip: At the end of the shaft of the Kerrison punch is the punch tip. These tips resemble small, sharp scoops that bite and remove the bone with precision and ease. Kerrison punch angles and bite sizes of the punch tip vary across different models to accommodate different surgical needs.
Depth Stop: Many Kerrison punches come with a depth stop mechanism to enable surgeons to accurately control the depth of the bone cut and minimize the risk of unintentional damage to critical structures.
Kerrison Punch: Function and Uses
Though initially developed for otology procedures, Kerrison punches are now important bone-cutting instruments for spine surgeons. One of the key Kerrison bone punch uses is to aid precise bone cutting and removal to clear the surgical site and perform further surgical tasks. In particular, they are absolutely essential in laminectomy, foraminotomy, spinal fusion, and spinal decompression procedures. Using these bone punches, the surgeons will remove small parts of the vertebrate to access the spine and perform necessary action. Kerrison bone punches are also used in other surgical specialties such as orthopedics, ENT, and much more. Kerrison bone fracture punches are used in trauma surgeries to remove damaged bones and joints and perform fusion, grafting, or implantation procedures. They are also used in deformity correction procedures by orthopedic surgeons.
The Benefits of Kerrison Punch
Unmatched Precision
The Kerrison bone punch design incorporates a sharp punch tip that ensures precise bone cuts. They are available in varying sizes, angles, and depths to help surgeons control the angle and depth of the cuts. The ergonomic handle and grip offer great grasping power, seamless maneuverability, and unmatched control
over the instrument, reducing surgeon pain and fatigue, and minimizing chances of human error.
Minimized Trauma
Traditional bone rongeurs and other commonly used bone punches have a higher risk of inadvertent damage to surrounding tissues during bone removal. The Kerrison punch’s precise cutting mechanism and outstanding design minimize trauma to adjacent bone structures and soft tissues such as nerves and blood
vessels. This helps reduce complications during spine surgeries and improves the recovery time.
Better Surgical Outcomes
These bone punches ensure better surgical outcomes by reducing the risk of complications and postoperative discomfort for patients. The unmatched precision offered by these bone punches translates into faster recovery times and better patient experiences.
Your Search for Premium Quality, Precise Kerrison Punch Ends Here
Gesco, a renowned surgical instrument and implant manufacturer in India, has been perfecting the art and craft of developing and manufacturing Kerrison punches for 60+ years. Our range of premium-quality Kerrison bone punches are available in a wide range of sizes, shapes, and configurations, perfect for minimally invasive and other spine procedures. The precision, grasping power, and control offered by our range of Kerrison punches are unmatched and enable surgeons to ensure the best possible surgical outcomes.