The button-end knife commonly used in rhinoplasty has to be extremely sharp because of its required precision. Owing to sterilization, cutting of cartilage, and completion of hump-severance, it becomes dull very readily. Thus the button-end knife requires almost constant sharpening and frequent replacement.
A, throw-away blade in permanent handle. B, blade disengaged by turning screw at bottom of permanent handle.
For many years I have tried to devise an interchangeable button-end knife similar in principle to the Bard-Parker handles and blades. I have now constructed one in which the button-end blade can be inserted, fixed, and changed as often as desired. The handle, which is perfectly balanced, has a screw at the bottom, which on being turned and pushed forward disengages and releases the blade. A fresh blade can be re-engaged by reversing the action of the screw.
The new handle with the "throw-away" button-end knife blade has the added