We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.

Advertiser Disclosure

Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How We Make Money

We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently from our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.

How Do I Choose the Best Kelly Forceps?

By Alex Newth
Updated May 17, 2024
Our promise to you
WiseGEEK is dedicated to creating trustworthy, high-quality content that always prioritizes transparency, integrity, and inclusivity above all else. Our ensure that our content creation and review process includes rigorous fact-checking, evidence-based, and continual updates to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

Editorial Standards

At WiseGEEK, we are committed to creating content that you can trust. Our editorial process is designed to ensure that every piece of content we publish is accurate, reliable, and informative.

Our team of experienced writers and editors follows a strict set of guidelines to ensure the highest quality content. We conduct thorough research, fact-check all information, and rely on credible sources to back up our claims. Our content is reviewed by subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and clarity.

We believe in transparency and maintain editorial independence from our advertisers. Our team does not receive direct compensation from advertisers, allowing us to create unbiased content that prioritizes your interests.

Kelly forceps typically are used for surgery and common medical procedures, and there are many variations on this design. Choosing the best Kelly forceps likely will mean choosing some that are large enough for your needs without being overly large. There are both straight and curved versions, and both are good for different purposes. While most of these forceps have a similar teeth size, there are mosquito versions that have exceptionally small teeth. If you are using these forceps for common procedures instead of surgery, then you likely will want to get floor-grade Kelly forceps.

There are many different sizes of Kelly forceps available, and you should choose forceps that are large enough for your needs. Larger forceps will allow you to clamp more tissue at once, but large models may not be suitable for procedures that involve a small amount of tissue or very sensitive procedures. At the same time, small forceps may not be able to adequately stop bleeding if these are used as a hemostat.

The teeth of Kelly forceps can be either curved or straight, with the straight version being more common. Straight forceps are best when a moderate amount of force is needed and when you can easily see to clamp onto the tissue you need to move. If you need more force, or if the tissue is at a difficult-to-reach angle, then curved forceps may be better. The price of both forceps typically is about the same, so it often comes down to need and preference.

Most Kelly forceps have a general tooth size, and the teeth usually make up about one-third of the forceps, but there also is a mosquito variant. The mosquito version has much smaller teeth, which take up about one-fourth of the forceps. For sensitive procedures in which larger teeth can be unwieldy, this variant should help you properly perform the procedure.

Depending on the materials used to make Kelly forceps, you can choose either a floor or surgery model. A floor model is meant for common procedures that do not involve major incisions. While they are sanitary, they are not recommended for internal use, and they may harm the patient. If performing surgery, it would be safer to get surgery-grade forceps. At the same time, surgery-grade forceps often are more expensive, and they typically are not as durable, because they are made to deal with sensitive tissue inside the body rather than skin.

WiseGEEK is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Discussion Comments

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGEEK, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.