Surgical chisels, osteotomes, and gouges look alike and do three different jobs, and the difference is entirely in the bevel. Peak Surgicals stocks 24 patterns here, from Long Bevel Osteotome Straight/Curved ($11.00) through the full Mini Lambotte Osteotome ladder in ten widths ($16.50), all in German stainless steel and CE-marked and built under ISO 13485. Compare all 24 patterns in the grid below.
What Is the Difference Between a Chisel, an Osteotome and a Gouge?
A chisel is bevelled on one side and an osteotome on both, and that single difference decides what happens to the bone. The chisel's flat face rides along the cut while the bevel drives the edge sideways, so it cuts and chips: turn the bevel away from the bone to cut into it, turn it toward the bone to plane the surface flat. The osteotome's symmetrical wedge splits instead, driving straight down the line of the blade with equal force either side, which is what an osteotomy needs.
A gouge is a chisel with a curved or scooped edge. It cuts hollows and curves rather than flat planes, which is why it is the instrument for harvesting cancellous graft and for contouring a surface no straight blade can follow. All three are driven with a mallet, so the surgeon feels resistance change as the edge passes from cortex into cancellous bone. We supply every pattern at MOQ 1.
The Mini Lambotte Ladder: Ten Widths, One Pattern
Osteotome width is chosen against the bone, not the surgeon's preference, and this range carries ten Mini Lambotte widths so the cut is never made with an oversized blade. Mini Lambotte Osteotome 2mm ($16.50) through Mini Lambotte Osteotome 20mm ($16.50) run in 2mm steps to 20mm, letting a narrow blade start a controlled cut in thin cortex and a wide one carry a straight line across a broad surface. Long Bevel Osteotome Straight/Curved ($11.00) and Long Bevel Osteotome 10mm Straight ($16.50) offer a shallower wedge angle for a longer, less aggressive entry.
The pattern is named for Albin Lambotte, the Antwerp surgeon who performed the first successful internal fixation of a fractured femur in 1902 and became the founder of modern osteosynthesis. A skilled craftsman and wood carver, he built his own pins, plates and instruments in his workshop, and the osteotome that carries his name came out of that bench.
Gouge and Chisel Patterns by Anatomy
Gouge selection is about the curve depth and the anatomy it has to follow. Hibbs Gouge Straight/Curved ($16.50) and Smith Peterson Gouge Straight/Curved ($16.50) are the general-purpose spinal and hip patterns, both offered in straight and curved shanks for surface or recessed access. Cobb Type Spinal Gouge ($16.50) follows vertebral contour, and Shoulder Penetrating Gouge ($13.20) carries a narrower profile for glenoid and proximal humerus work.
Among chisels, Lexer Mini Chisel ($16.50) and Hoke Chisel ($16.50) cover the fine end for small-bone and graft shaping, while Alexander Chisel ($16.50) and Army Pattern Chisel 6mm–12mm ($16.50) handle heavier cortical work. Alexander Gouge ($11.00), Stille Type Gouge ($16.50) and U.S. Army Pattern Gouge ($16.50) complete the scooping range.
Material, Reprocessing and Certification
Every pattern is forged from German stainless steel, hardened at the cutting edge and passivated for corrosion resistance across repeated cycles. The inspection point is the edge and the striking end: hold the blade to light and check the bevel for chips or rolled metal, then check the impact face for mushrooming, since a spread striking surface throws mallet force off axis. Clean immediately after use with a neutral-pH enzymatic solution, brushing bone debris off the bevel before it dries, then rinse with deionised water and dry fully before autoclaving at 134°C.
These are Class I reusable devices, CE marked and built under ISO 13485, with a one-year manufacturing warranty. We ship at MOQ 1 with free shipping over $99, and OEM and private-label production is available for distributors. Pair these with our Bone Mallets, see Orthopedic Osteotomes and Chisels for the heavier orthopedic range, or browse all Plastic Surgery Instruments. Talk to us about OEM terms.
