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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
Brown-Adson forceps are hand-held tissue forceps with a wide, flat, serrated grip and multiple rows of fine teeth at the tip. Readers searching the name usually need to tell the instrument apart from plain Adson forceps and to read a catalogue listing correctly.
What are Brown Adson forceps?
Brown-Adson (also written Adson-Brown) tissue forceps are a reusable surgical hand instrument for holding thicker tissue. The EyeRounds oculoplastic tray tutorial (University of Iowa) lists a 4.75 inch Brown Adson tissue forceps with multiple rows of right-angle teeth and a wide, flat, serrated platform for thumb grasping, and describes it as suitable for holding and manipulating subcutaneous tissue, used most frequently during browplasty to grasp thicker tissue of the deep brow. Who uses it: oculoplastic and other surgical teams (EyeRounds describes it in an oculoplastic tray), and the staff who stock and reprocess instrument trays.
How the instrument is built
Two features separate it from a plain forceps, both described by EyeRounds: the broad, flat, serrated thumb-grasping platform, and the multiple rows of teeth set at right angles at the tip. Manufacturer listings in the FDA GUDID database add finish and tip details, for example an ebonized finish, a gold-colored handle, angled tips, or a delicate tip with serrated handle. Every Brown-Adson listing returned by the GUDID search was marked reusable, not single-use.
Brown-Adson, Adson and Adson dressing forceps compared
| Instrument | Tip and teeth | Listed length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adson tissue forceps | 1×2 teeth, set at right angles; grasps thick or heavy skin | 4.875 in | EyeRounds oculoplastic tray tutorial |
| Brown Adson tissue forceps | Multiple rows of right-angle teeth; wide, flat, serrated thumb platform | 4.75 in | EyeRounds oculoplastic tray tutorial |
| Adson dressing forceps | Cross-serrated jaw, listed as dressing/utility forceps | 4-3/4 in (121 mm) | FDA GUDID record, Med Saver listing |
The practical difference is the tip: a 1×2 tooth pattern versus a grid of teeth. A dressing forceps with serrated jaws is a different product class from a toothed tissue forceps.
How listings describe size and teeth
No formal standard for the Brown-Adson pattern is cited here, so catalogue values are the manufacturers’ own descriptions, as entered in GUDID (openFDA UDI API, checked 2026-10-30). Read the tooth grid as rows by teeth across.
| Listing text (manufacturer) | Length | Teeth |
|---|---|---|
| Adson Brown Tissue forceps (Pomee Corp) | 4 3/4 in | 7×7 |
| Forceps Tissue, ADSON-BROWN, ebonized (ELMED) | 15 cm | 7×7 |
| Adson Brown Forceps, angled tips (Surgical Direct) | 4 3/4 in | 9 x 9 |
| Nahai Brown Adson forceps, gold handle (Black & Black Surgical) | 6 in (15 cm) | 9×9 |
FDA classification
The same named instrument is filed under different FDA product codes depending on the specialty. openFDA classification data (last updated 2026-10-19) lists product code GEN, “Forceps, General & Plastic Surgery”, as class 1 under 21 CFR 878.4800; EFL, “Forceps, Dressing, Dental”, as class 1 under 872.4565; and KAE, “Forceps, Ent”, as class 1 under 874.4420. 21 CFR 878.4800 describes a manual surgical instrument for general use as a nonpowered, hand-held or hand-manipulated device, class I (general controls).
How to choose
The only selection criterion sourced here is tissue: EyeRounds describes the multi-row Brown Adson pattern for thicker or heavier tissue, and the 1×2 Adson for thick skin. Otherwise compare the listed length, tooth grid, tip and finish against the tray list your clinical team provides.
Handling and reprocessing
Brown-Adson forceps are listed as reusable instruments, so cleaning and sterilization requirements come from each manufacturer’s instructions for use. Follow those instructions for the specific instrument.
Common mistakes
- Treating Adson and Brown-Adson as the same instrument; the tip pattern differs (1×2 teeth versus multiple rows).
- Assuming a tooth grid or length is standardized; listings from different manufacturers vary (7×7, 9×9; 4 3/4 in, 6 in).
- Ignoring the manufacturer’s instructions for use when reprocessing a reusable instrument.
FAQ
What is the difference between Adson and Brown-Adson forceps?
Adson tissue forceps have 1×2 teeth; Brown Adson forceps have multiple rows of right-angle teeth and a wide, flat, serrated thumb platform (EyeRounds).
Are Brown Adson forceps reusable?
The GUDID records returned by the search list them as reusable, not single-use. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for use.
What FDA class are they?
Class 1 under the product codes listed above (GEN, EFL, KAE).
Related reading on CASRAI: plastic surgery instruments, medical forceps types, wound closure kit contents. Product category: surgical forceps.
Sources
- EyeRounds (University of Iowa), Oculoplastic Tray tutorial: https://eyerounds.org/tutorials/instruments/Oculoplastics/OculoplasticTray/ (checked 2026-10-30)
- openFDA device UDI (GUDID) API: https://api.fda.gov/device/udi.json (checked 2026-10-30)
- openFDA device classification API: https://api.fda.gov/device/classification.json (last updated 2026-10-19; checked 2026-10-30)
- 21 CFR 878.4800, General surgery manual instruments: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/21/878.4800 (checked 2026-10-30)
