Episiotomy scissors are one of the most used instruments in labor and delivery, yet they often receive the least attention in procurement. Getting the design and size right matters — a scissors that is too short does not provide adequate access to the perineum in the lithotomy position, and a scissors with poor jaw alignment tears tissue rather than cutting it cleanly, which directly affects wound healing.
Types of Episiotomy Scissors
Two designs dominate clinical practice:
Braun-Stadler Episiotomy Scissors
The Braun-Stadler scissors is the most widely used episiotomy scissors pattern globally. Its defining feature is its angled design — the blade plane is offset from the handle plane by approximately 30 degrees, which allows the surgeon’s hand to clear the perineal area during the cut. The angled geometry also allows the blades to be positioned precisely against the perineal body at the correct mediolateral angle (typically 45 to 60 degrees from the midline) without obstructing the view of the cutting plane.
- Standard length: 17 cm — fits all standard lithotomy positions
- Extended length: 19 cm — preferred in patients with more lateral perineal anatomy or when the standard position limits hand clearance
Straight-Bladed Episiotomy Scissors
Used for midline episiotomies in facilities that practice median rather than mediolateral episiotomy. Straight-bladed design with blunt tips to prevent inadvertent rectal penetration. Less commonly ordered than the Braun-Stadler but still in regular use in some labor ward protocols.
Blade Design — What Determines Cut Quality
An episiotomy is a timed single cut made under clinical pressure during delivery. Three blade features determine whether the cut is clean:
- Blade sharpness — the cutting edge must be maintained at a sharpness that produces a clean incision on the first pass; a dull scissors creates a torn wound edge rather than a sharp incision, and torn edges are more difficult to close, heal more slowly, and carry higher infection risk
- Jaw alignment — misaligned jaws leave a small bridge of tissue uncut at the tip of each pass; this bridge must be torn rather than cut, which extends the incision unevenly
- Tip configuration — one blunt and one sharp tip (semisharp) is the standard; the blunt tip is positioned against the fetal presenting part during the cut to protect the fetus from inadvertent puncture
Fizza Surgical Braun-Stadler Scissors — Manufacturing Specification
Blades are ground from 316L stainless steel and hollow-ground to a bevel angle that maintains the cutting edge through 200-plus sterilization cycles. Jaw alignment is checked at final inspection with a tissue paper test — jaws that leave uncut paper at the tip are rejected. The ring handles are sized for gloved hands (28 to 30 mm internal diameter), with finger grooves for positive positioning.
All instruments are manufactured under ISO 13485:2016 with CE marking.
Braun-Stadler vs Straight Episiotomy Scissors: Specifications
| Attribute | Braun-Stadler | Straight pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Blade profile | Angled on flat, one blunt guarded tip | Straight, both tips blunt |
| Standard length | 14.5 cm | 14 cm / 16 cm |
| Cut orientation | Mediolateral | Midline or mediolateral |
| Guard function | Bulbous tip sits against presenting part | Blunt tip only, no offset |
| Material | 316L stainless steel | 316L or 420 stainless steel |
| Handle ring ID | 28-30 mm, gloved-hand sized | 26-30 mm |
| Sterilisation | Steam, 134 °C / 3 min | |
| Standards | ISO 7153-1 materials; ISO 13485 quality system | |
2026 Update: Edge Maintenance in High-Volume Wards
The single biggest determinant of how long a set of episiotomy scissors stays serviceable is not the number of cuts, it is what happens between them. Blood left to dry on the shear faces is abrasive on the next closure, and washer-disinfector cycles alone do not remove it from the pivot area. Wards running high daily volumes get materially longer service life by cleaning immediately at point of use and lubricating the box joint at every cycle.
Edge dulling is progressive rather than sudden, so it is usually detected late. Run the tissue paper test on a scheduled basis rather than waiting for a midwife to report a scissors that tears: two sheets of paper cut with a single smooth closure, checked at the tip as well as mid-blade. Scissors that pass mid-blade but drag at the tip have jaw alignment loss, not edge loss, and alignment is often correctable at a professional sharpening and realignment service rather than requiring replacement.
On material choice, 316L is specified here for corrosion resistance in a persistently wet, blood-exposed environment rather than for edge hardness. The trade-off is deliberate, and it is the same reasoning set out in our comparison of 316L and 304 stainless steel for surgical instruments.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does one blade of Braun-Stadler scissors have a bulbous tip?
That tip is a guard. It is placed between the scissors and the fetal presenting part so the cut cannot be carried into fetal tissue. It is the defining safety feature of the pattern and the reason it is preferred for mediolateral episiotomy.
Can episiotomy scissors be used for general cutting?
No. The blunt guarded tip and the angle on the flat are specific to perineal work, and using them for suture or dressing cutting dulls the edge quickly. Keep a separate pair of general scissors in the delivery pack.
What length should a labour ward stock?
14.5 cm is the standard Braun-Stadler length and suits most operators. Wards that also perform midline episiotomy should stock a straight pattern alongside it rather than trying to use one instrument for both approaches.
How often should the cutting edge be checked?
On a fixed schedule rather than on complaint. Use the two-sheet tissue paper test at the tip and mid-blade at each reprocessing audit, since edge loss develops gradually and gets noticed only once the instrument is already tearing tissue.
Is 316L or 420 stainless the better choice?
For obstetric scissors, 316L. The instrument lives in a wet, blood-exposed environment where corrosion resistance matters more than maximum attainable edge hardness, and 316L holds an adequate edge through repeated steam cycles.
Ordering for Labor Ward Volumes
Labor wards that perform 10 to 30 episiotomies per day go through episiotomy scissors rapidly. We offer volume pricing for orders of 50 instruments or more and can configure sets that include one Braun-Stadler and one straight episiotomy scissors per instrument tray for wards that use both approaches. Contact Fizza Surgical for pricing or to request a catalog of our complete obstetric instrument range.
Where We Serve
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