Which needle holder combines a ratchet action with built-in scissors?

• A. Crile-Wood
• B. Mayo-Hegar
• C. Castroviejo
• D. Olsen-Hegar

Answer: (D)

Having a needle holder that locks and also cuts sutures in one instrument saves time and reduces the need to switch tools in the sterile field. The Olsen-Hegar design combines both features: a ratchet mechanism to lock the jaws and built-in scissors integrated into the instrument so you can drive the needle and then trim the suture without picking up a separate scissor.

The other common needle holders provide locking but do not include the integrated scissors, so you would need a separate scissors to cut sutures. The Castroviejo style is a fine, delicate holder used in microsurgery and typically lacks built-in scissors in its standard form. Together, this makes Olsen-Hegar the best choice when you want both ratchet action and built-in cutting capability in a single instrument.