THE TRADITIONAL surgical bone rasp has small teeth whose action becomes dulled as they accumulate bone particles.
The function of a rasp is to shape, trim, and form bone surfaces. This, in the author's experience, has been attained most efficiently by a modern surface-forming tool designed for use on wood and metals up to the hardness of mild steel. As shown in the illustration, the shaping is done by hardened steel teeth which project from the flat surface of a perforated blade. The perforations allow the bone chips to escape away from the cutting area. The blade is mounted on a frame which acts as a container, preventing the bone chips from being distributed in the work area. The instrument is always sharp, since the blade is replaceable.
The tool is obtainable in most hardware stores for the price of approximately $2. Its chief use in the author's hands