Needle Holder Types: Webster, Halsey, Olsen-Hegar, Mayo-Hegar and Tungsten Carbide Jaws
Instrument guides
Needle Holder Types: Webster, Halsey, Olsen-Hegar, Mayo-Hegar and Tungsten Carbide Jaws
How needle holders differ by jaw, length and lock, when an Olsen-Hegar with built in scissors helps, and why tungsten carbide jaws are worth it.
A needle holder clamps the suture needle so you can drive it through tissue. Choose the jaw to match the needle: small, fine jaws such as the Webster, Halsey and Derf for the fine sutures of facial and plastic surgery, and broader jaws such as the Mayo-Hegar and Crilewood for larger needles. Smooth jaws protect fine sutures, and serrated jaws grip harder. The Olsen-Hegar adds a scissor behind the jaw so one instrument sutures and cuts. Tungsten carbide jaws grip securely for longer.
How did the needle holder develop?
A needle holder is built like a hemostat, with a ratchet lock, but with short, strong jaws made to hold a needle rather than a vessel. The ratchet is the same idea Jules Péan built into his hemostatic forceps in the nineteenth century, covered in our hemostatic forceps guide. The Hegar and Mayo-Hegar names are widely used, but we did not find a reliable source on who designed them or when, so we do not tell that story.
Which needle holders do we make?
| Group | Patterns | Our lengths |
|---|---|---|
| Fine, for facial and plastic sutures | Webster smooth, Halsey, Derf, Neivert, Wright, Collier, Tebbetts TC delicate | 12 to 17 cm |
| With scissors | Olsen-Hegar, Olsen-Hegar TC, Foster Gillies, Foster Gillies TC | 11.5 to 19 cm |
| General | Mayo-Hegar, Mayo-Hegar TC, Crilewood, Crilewood TC, Ryder TC, Sarot TC | 13 to 30 cm |
| Deep and curved | Heaney curved, Bozemann S shape, Thomson Walker | 20 to 21 cm |
| Spring handle | Mathieu TC, Baumgartner TC, Nagata TC | 14 to 24 cm |
| Wire work | Corwin Hegar TC wire twisting forcep | 16 cm |
Why choose tungsten carbide jaws?
Tungsten carbide (TC) inserts are much harder than stainless steel, so a TC jaw or blade holds its grip or its edge for longer, and worn inserts can be replaced instead of the whole instrument. They cost more. In a needle holder, worn stainless jaws let the needle twist as you drive it. TC jaws keep a precise grip, which matters most with fine needles. Many of our patterns come in both standard and TC versions, so you can compare them on the product pages.
How do you choose a needle holder?
- Needle size first. A fine jaw on a large needle can bend the needle or spring the jaw. A heavy jaw on a fine needle flattens it.
- Length for depth. 12 to 14 cm for the face and skin, 16 to 20 cm for general work, longer for deep cavities.
- Smooth or serrated. Smooth jaws for fine sutures, serrated for a firmer hold on larger needles.
- Grip. Spring handle patterns such as the Mathieu open on release and suit fast, repetitive suturing.
How should needle holders be cleaned?
Open the ratchet and clean the jaws and the box joint with a soft brush. Check the jaw: if a needle rotates when clamped, the jaw or its insert is worn. Never leave instruments in saline, because it causes corrosion. Our instrument care guide gives the full routine, and the CDC guidance on cleaning instruments before sterilization explains why cleaning comes before the autoclave.
Frequently asked questions
What is an Olsen-Hegar needle holder?
A needle holder with a scissor built in behind the jaw, so you can suture and cut the suture with one instrument.
What is the difference between a Webster and a Mayo-Hegar?
The Webster is short with fine jaws for fine sutures. The Mayo-Hegar has broader jaws for larger needles.
How do I know if the jaws are worn?
Clamp a needle on the first ratchet tooth. If you can turn it easily by hand, the jaw grip is worn.
Can TC needle holders be autoclaved?
Yes. Sterilize them open, on the first ratchet tooth or fully unlocked.
Related instrument guides
Order needle holders
See the full needle holder range. For a set for a hospital, a clinic or a distributor, send us your list and we will send you a quote.