“That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet…”*

Known by some as the Ferris-Smith and to others as the Cloward-style, this instrument, with its deep, full serrations, provides the surgeon with an assuring grasp of disc fragments.

Here in the United States, 'Ferris-Smith' is the name most commonly used to describe pituitary cups on a ring-handled Kerrison-style handle. This pattern has long been popular for removing ruptured disc fragments in both anterior and posterior approaches. Buxton has recently expanded its Ferris-Smith offerings to include the model pictured above with serrated jaws.

The 200 mm shaft offers enough extension for use on most patients and the wide, concave jaws allow the surgeon to firmly embrace generous tissue mass. For those truly exceptional circumstances, we offer a very similar model with 8mm wide cups and a 300 mm shaft length.

*Romeo & Juliet, [Act II, Scene i]
Reflections on one of this world’s vexing mysteries by a languid young lady who found fame and literary immortality by showing us through her own example how not to manage life’s occasional setbacks.

Talking Back, Vol. 1, No. 4