Castroviejo Needle Holder

Spring-handled needle holder held with a tweezer-like grip, used for fine suturing in eye surgery, microsurgery and dental surgery.

Mayo-Hegar needle holders are ring-handled, ratcheted instruments generally associated with general surgical suturing, while Castroviejo needle holders are spring-handled, pencil-grip instruments designed for fine needles and small sutures. Mayo-Hegar holders come in many lengths and usually have cross-hatched or tungsten carbide jaws. Castroviejo holders have fine jaws, straight or curved, with or without a lock, and are associated with ophthalmic, plastic and microsurgical work. Using a fine holder with heavy needles can damage the jaws. See the Mayo-Hegar and Castroviejo guides.

Ring-handled instruments have finger and thumb rings, and the instrument pivots at a box lock or screw joint, as with most scissors, hemostats and many needle holders. They are usually held with the thumb and ring finger. Spring-handled instruments have two arms joined at one end that spring apart; they are held like a pencil and closed by finger pressure. Spring handles are common in fine ophthalmic and microsurgical instruments, such as Castroviejo-type needle holders and Vannas-type scissors, where small, rotational movements are needed. Thumb forceps are a related non-locking spring design. Handle choice depends on the procedure and on surgeon preference, so confirm with the clinical team.

Lengths recorded from the sources for this guide: 14 cm, 14.5 cm, 18 cm and 21 cm. Ranges differ between manufacturers, so confirm the exact size in the catalogue you order from.

This guide records these variations, shapes: Curved and Straight; jaw, tip or blade: Serrated, Smooth, Heavy and Delicate; handles and locks: Lock. See variations, sizes & configurations for the full list.

66 items matching this pattern are listed from manufacturers’ own online catalogues: Accurate Surgical & Scientific Instruments (32), Lenox Surgical Instruments (16), Sklar Surgical Instruments (11), Hu-Friedy (5) and Bio Medical Instruments (2). The catalogue table gives each model number and size as published, with a link to the official product page.

Companies whose own catalogues list the Castroviejo Needle Holder include Accurate Surgical & Scientific Instruments. Check the exact pattern and size with the company.

• Pattern and size: compare the jaw pattern, any jaw inserts and the ratchet or lock, together with the length with the supplier’s catalogue drawing or a sample. For the Castroviejo Needle Holder this page records lengths of 14 cm, 14.5 cm, 18 cm and 21 cm, Curved and Straight shapes and Serrated, Smooth and Heavy tips.
• Material: this guide records stainless steel and tungsten carbide inserts; confirm the exact steel grade or alloy in the supplier’s documentation, such as the material specification or certificate.
• Finish and any coating, as stated by the supplier.
• Regulatory marking or registration required in your target market (see medical device certifications).
• Reprocessing: the cleaning, disinfection and sterilisation instructions in the manufacturer’s instructions for use (IFU).

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