From the Research
For a laminectomy, your mayo stand should include a #3 knife handle with #10 and #15 blades, Metzenbaum scissors, tissue forceps, Adson forceps, toothed forceps, needle drivers, hemostats, Kerrison rongeurs (various sizes), pituitary rongeurs, curettes, Penfield dissectors, Woodson elevator, Cobb elevator, Leksell rongeurs, suction tips, retractors (such as Taylor or McCulloch), and a bipolar electrocautery, as well as bupivacaine for wound infiltration as recommended by the most recent study 1.
Essential Instruments
- A #3 knife handle with #10 and #15 blades
- Metzenbaum scissors
- Tissue forceps
- Adson forceps
- Toothed forceps
- Needle drivers
- Hemostats
- Kerrison rongeurs (various sizes)
- Pituitary rongeurs
- Curettes
- Penfield dissectors
- Woodson elevator
- Cobb elevator
- Leksell rongeurs
- Suction tips
- Retractors (such as Taylor or McCulloch)
- Bipolar electrocautery
Hemostatic Agents and Closure
- Hemostatic agents like bone wax, Gelfoam, and Surgicel
- Appropriate sutures based on surgeon preference, typically absorbable sutures for deeper layers and non-absorbable or staples for skin
- Gauze sponges and irrigation syringes readily available
Pain Management
- Bupivacaine for wound infiltration, as supported by studies 2, 3, 4, 5, with the most recent and comprehensive guideline recommending its use 1
- Consideration of paracetamol and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 selective inhibitor for postoperative pain management, as recommended by 1
Arrangement and Preference
The specific arrangement of instruments on the mayo stand may vary slightly based on surgeon preference, so always confirm the setup with your surgical team before the procedure begins.