Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
Kelly scissors are reusable, hand-held surgical scissors sold under the name “Kelly”. The name is easy to confuse with the Kelly hemostat (Kelly clamp), which is a different instrument that clamps rather than cuts. Product listings use the same surname for both, so this page separates them first.
Who uses them: clinicians who cut or dissect tissue in open surgery, and, according to one manufacturer, periodontal (gum) surgery and superficial dissections. Buyers and students meet them in instrument catalogues and product databases.
What are Kelly scissors?
Kelly scissors are manual surgical scissors that cut or dissect tissue. In the US FDA device database (AccessGUDID) a Kelly scissor is listed under the GMDN term “General-purpose surgical scissors, reusable” (GMDN 38727), defined as a hand-held manual surgical instrument designed to cut or dissect a variety of tissues during open surgery. The same record gives the FDA product code LRW, “Scissors, General, Surgical”, and states that the device is reusable (record checked 2026-10-29).
Under 21 CFR 878.4800, a manual surgical instrument for general use is a nonpowered, hand-held or hand-manipulated device, either reusable or disposable, intended for various general surgical procedures. It is Class I (general controls) and exempt from 510(k) premarket notification, subject to the limits in 21 CFR 878.9 (eCFR, checked 2026-10-29). The regulation describes the whole family of general-use manual instruments; it does not name Kelly scissors specifically.
How Kelly scissors are built
The GMDN definition says instruments of this type are typically made of metal, and some have carbide inserts on the cutting edges. One manufacturer, Frimed, describes its Kelly scissors as surgical stainless steel with smooth (non-serrated) blades and a fine tip, and states they are compatible with autoclave sterilisation. These are that manufacturer’s descriptions of its own product; other makers may differ.
Types and variants
The two listings below show some of the variation found in Kelly scissors. Each row is one product, not a rule for the whole category.
| Listing | Shape | Stated use or status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Symmetry Kelly, Aspen Surgical, catalog 04-5416 | Straight | General-purpose surgical scissors, reusable; supplied non-sterile | AccessGUDID, checked 2026-10-29 |
| Kelly surgical scissors, Frimed | Curved | Designed for gum surgery; periodontal surgery or superficial dissections | Frimed model page via remma.fr, checked 2026-10-29 |
Sizes that are documented
| Listing | Stated length | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Symmetry Kelly, straight (Aspen Surgical) | 6 1/4 in (6.25 in) | AccessGUDID |
| Kelly curved scissors (Frimed) | 16 cm (total length 16.0 cm) | Frimed model page |
Lengths and shapes vary between manufacturers, so the catalogue description of the exact product is the reference, not the name alone.
Kelly scissors vs the Kelly hemostat
Kelly scissors cut. A Kelly hemostat (Kelly clamp) is a clamping instrument; see what a hemostat is and the medical forceps types guide for the clamp family. When a listing says “Kelly” check the product type, because the surname alone does not tell you whether the item is a scissor or a clamp.
Within scissors, Kelly sits beside other named patterns. For how those patterns differ see surgical scissor types, dissecting scissors and the Metzenbaum vs Mayo scissors comparison.
Safe use and handling basics
These are general points drawn from the records above, not instructions for any procedure.
- The Symmetry Kelly record states the instrument is not supplied sterile and requires sterilization before use; the method listed for that product is moist heat or steam sterilization.
- The device is reusable, so reprocessing follows the manufacturer’s instructions for use (IFU) for the specific product.
Common mistakes
- Treating Kelly scissors and the Kelly hemostat as one instrument because they share a name.
- Assuming the sterilization method listed for one product applies to every Kelly scissor; the AccessGUDID method is specific to that listing.
- Assuming every Kelly scissor is straight or curved, or has a particular tip; the two listings above differ.
Buyers browsing instruments can find related forceps in one supplier’s category.
Frequently asked questions
Are Kelly scissors the same as a Kelly clamp?
No. Kelly scissors cut or dissect tissue; a Kelly clamp (Kelly hemostat) is a clamping instrument. The shared surname is the only link between the two names.
Are Kelly scissors reusable?
The AccessGUDID record for the Symmetry Kelly lists the device as reusable, under the GMDN term “General-purpose surgical scissors, reusable”. Reprocessing follows the manufacturer’s instructions for the specific product.
How long are Kelly scissors?
It depends on the product. The two documented listings above are 6 1/4 in (straight, Aspen Surgical) and 16 cm (curved, Frimed).
Sources
- US National Library of Medicine, AccessGUDID, device 00887482051627 (Symmetry Kelly): https://accessgudid.nlm.nih.gov/devices/00887482051627, checked 2026-10-29.
- eCFR, 21 CFR 878.4800 Manual surgical instrument for general use: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-21/part-878/section-878.4800, checked 2026-10-29.
- Frimed, Kelly surgical scissors, curved, 16 cm (via remma.fr): https://remma.fr/en/model/kelly-surgical-scissors-curved-16-cm, checked 2026-10-29.
