Orthopedic shears cut through set plaster and fibreglass cast material without transmitting that force to the limb underneath. Peak Surgicals supplies four patterns, Bohler, Guys, Swedish and eccentric, in German stainless steel, from $18.70 to $82.50, each carrying a model number. Every pattern is CE marked and built under ISO 13485. Compare all patterns in the grid below.
Which Plaster Shear for Which Cast?
The Bohler plaster shear ($27.50) is the general-purpose pattern for standard limb casts, the Guys shear ($22.00) handles routine cutting at the lowest entry point, the eccentric pattern ($18.70) offsets the pivot for leverage on dense material, and the Swedish pattern ($82.50) carries the heaviest construction for thick or fibreglass casts. Cast thickness and material decide the choice before handle preference does.
Bohler Plaster Shear (PS-BPS-00302, $27.50) is the pattern most orthopaedic departments default to, enough mechanical advantage for routine plaster without the bulk of a heavy shear. Guys Plaster Shear (PS-GPS-00305, $22.00), also catalogued as the Bruns pattern, covers the same work. Eccentric Plaster Shear (PS-EPS-00304, $18.70) shifts the pivot point off-centre, changing the leverage curve so more force reaches the blade at the start of the cut. Swedish Pattern Plaster Shears (PS-SPPS-00306, $82.50) sit at the top of the range where cast material is thick, reinforced, or synthetic. We supply every pattern at MOQ
Blade, Pivot and the Platform Against the Skin
The feature that matters most on a plaster shear is the one buyers rarely ask about: the lower blade carries a reinforced flat platform that slides between cast and limb. That platform faces the skin, spreads contact pressure, and is what keeps the cutting edge working against plaster rather than against the patient. A shear without it is a heavy scissor, not a cast instrument.
Pivot position sets the leverage. A conventional pivot gives a consistent mechanical advantage through the stroke; an eccentric pivot front-loads it, which helps where the first bite into set plaster is the hardest part of the cut. Blade edge geometry is the third variable, low-wear edges hold through repeated cuts against an abrasive material that dulls ordinary scissor steel quickly.
Handle style follows from the force required. Plier-grip handles let the whole hand close rather than two fingers, which is why heavier patterns use them. For the broader cast-room range including saws, spreaders and benders, see our plaster shears collection.
Reprocessing, Corrosion and Certification
Plaster residue is the reprocessing problem specific to these instruments. Set plaster packs into the pivot and hardens there, stiffening the action across cycles, clean the joint before it dries rather than after, and ultrasonic-clean before autoclaving. Corrosion resistance matters more here than on most orthopaedic instruments because gypsum residue holds moisture against the steel; German stainless steel is the material answer, and drying the pivot after each cycle is the procedural one.
Inspect the cutting edge and hinge together. A stiff or grinding hinge means the pivot needs attention, and nicked blades tear cast material instead of cutting it, which transmits more movement to the limb. Every instrument is Class I, reusable, CE marked and built under ISO 13485. Warranty is one year with return-and-replacement, MOQ is 1 piece, orders over $99 ship free in carton box packing, and OEM marking is available. For thoracic patterns see rib shears; browse all orthopedic instruments. Talk to us about OEM and volume terms.
