Adsons forceps can be used with teeth or without teeth. What is the primary difference?

• A. With teeth they are used for sutures; without teeth they are used for tissue.
• B. With teeth they are used for ligatures; without teeth they are used for clamping vessels.
• C. With teeth they are used for tissue; without teeth they are used for grasping sutures or delicate items.
• D. There is no difference; both are identical in use.

Answer: (C)

Adson forceps come in two tip styles: toothed and smooth. The teeth bite into tissue to prevent slipping, giving you a secure grip when handling or approximating tissue during procedures. However, those teeth can damage delicate structures or delicate materials like sutures. The smooth-tipped version lacks that biting grip, so it’s gentler on delicate items and is preferred for grasping sutures or other delicate instruments/materials without tearing or crushing. So the main difference is that toothed Adsons are used for tissue gripping, while smooth-tipped Adsons are used for grasping sutures or delicate items.