Rhinoplasty Osteotomes and Chisels: Types, Widths and Guarded Tips
Instrument guides
Rhinoplasty Osteotomes and Chisels: Types, Widths and Guarded Tips
How a chisel differs from an osteotome, the guarded, curved, guide thorn and micro patterns used in rhinoplasty, and the widths we make each in.
A chisel has its blade edge bevelled on one side only, so it cuts away bone on one face. An osteotome is bevelled on both sides, so it splits bone along a line. In rhinoplasty, osteotomes make the lateral and medial cuts that narrow the nasal bones, and chisels remove the bony hump. Choose by the cut: width for the bone you are cutting, straight or curved for the path, and a guard or guide thorn if you want to feel and protect the soft tissue over the blade.
Where do the osteotome names come from?
Most nasal osteotomes carry the names of the surgeons who shaped modern rhinoplasty: Joseph, Cottle, Fomon, Killian, Walter and, more recently, Cerkes, Cakir and Tebbetts. The rasp guide tells some of their story. The Lambotte osteotome is named after the Belgian surgeon Albin Lambotte, who coined the term osteosynthesis in 1904 and designed many bone instruments for fracture surgery. Names mark a pattern of blade and handle. They are not a modern specification, so we list the width and the curve on every osteotome.
Which osteotome and chisel types are there?
| Type | What makes it different | Our patterns |
|---|---|---|
| Straight osteotome | Double bevel, straight blade | Cottle graduated, Walter, Lambotte with depth marks, Sheehan |
| Curved osteotome | Blade curved left or right to follow the nasal bone | Silver, Anderson Neivert, Cottle curved |
| Guarded osteotome | A small guard on the edge you can feel through the skin | Cinelli, Blume |
| Guide thorn osteotome | A small point on the cutting face that keeps the path | Fanous, Schrom |
| Micro osteotome | Very narrow blade for small or percutaneous cuts | Cerkes micro, Cakir 3 mm, Tebbetts Sherman diamond tip |
| Chisel | Single bevel, removes bone | Cottle cross bar, McIndoe, Moberg, Cakir 90 degree |
| Septum chisel and gouge | Narrow blades for the septum and the bony spine | Freer, Ballenger, Killian gouge |
| Fishtail | Splayed edge for a broader cut | Cottle 16 mm fishtail osteotome, chisel |
Which width do you need?
Our osteotomes and chisels run from 2 mm (Walter, Lambotte, Sheehan) to 16 mm (Cottle fishtail, Moberg, Cinelli). Narrow blades, 2 to 4 mm, make small, controlled cuts and suit lateral osteotomy through a small entry. Wider blades, 10 to 16 mm, remove a hump or cut a broad plate of bone in one pass. Several patterns come in a range of widths on one product page: the Lambotte from 2 to 16 mm, the Sheehan from 2 to 15 mm. Graduated blades carry depth marks so you can see how far the edge has gone.
How do you keep an osteotome sharp?
A dull osteotome needs harder mallet blows and cracks bone instead of cutting it. Protect the edges in a rack or with tip guards, never in a loose tray. Look along the edge under light before each case: a nick or a rolled edge shows as a bright spot. Send dull osteotomes for resharpening instead of forcing them. Pair them with a mallet of the right weight.
How should osteotomes be cleaned?
Rinse bone dust off straight after use and brush the bevel and any guard or thorn. 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 the difference between an osteotome and a chisel?
A chisel is bevelled on one side and removes bone. An osteotome is bevelled on both sides and splits bone along a line.
What is a guarded osteotome for?
The guard rides on the outer surface of the bone, where you can feel it through the skin. You know where the edge is, and the soft tissue over it is protected.
Which osteotome is used for lateral osteotomy?
Narrow straight, curved or guarded osteotomes, often 2 to 4 mm, depending on the surgeon's technique.
Can osteotomes be autoclaved?
Yes. Ours are surgical grade stainless steel. Protect the edges during sterilization.
Related instrument guides
- Surgical mallets
- Nasal rasp types for rhinoplasty
- Septal and periosteal elevators
- Septal forceps and cartilage instruments
Build a rhinoplasty osteotome set
See the full chisel and osteotome range. For a set for a hospital, a clinic or a distributor, send us your list and we will send you a quote.