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Double-edged razor blade found to be sharpest for dermatologic surgery

The double-edged razor blade was the sharpest blade used in dermatologic surgery, according to recently published study results.

“One aspect of the blade that is instrumental to its performance, but is not objectively defined, is sharpness,” the study researchers wrote. “This information could be useful when choosing a blade for a particular procedure.”

The force in Newtons a blade requires to cut through a silicone cylinder was tested with the Sharpness Tester machine (Cutler and Allied Trades Research Association, Sheffield, UK). A standard of sharpness of new blades was determined using new blades, and blades already used for surgery were tested to measure the sharpness after use.

Baseline sharpness was determined by the machine on brand new double-edged razor blade (DERB; Personna), dermaBlades (DB; Personna), plastic scalpel handle #15 (PH #15; Bard-Parker), #15 blade (Southmedic, Canada), #10 blade (Personna) and #15 c blade (Personna). The scalpel blades were tested at the tip, belly and flat part of the blade.

The sharpest blade was the DERB, which required only 0.395 N of force to cut material. The DB was the second sharpest blade (0.46 N), followed by the PH #15 blade at 0.541 N, the #15c blade at 0.575 N, the #10 blade at 0.647 N and the #15 blade at 0.664 N.

There was a significant drop in sharpness after use for the DERB from 0.395 N to 0.493 N (P = .023). There were also significant decreases in sharpness for the #15 blade (P = .0003) and the #10 blade (P = .048). The drop in sharpness for the DP blade was not significant, and the #15 c blade and the PH #15 blade were not used on patients during the testing time, so they were not included in the post-use analysis.

“The #15 blade is probably the most commonly used blade in dermatologic surgical procedures, yet it is the least sharp of all the blades,” the researchers wrote.

 “This serves as a pilot study in the sharpness of blades used in dermatologic surgery,” the researchers concluded. “Studies to further delineate more accurately the amount the amount of use required to lose a significant amount of cutting power will be helpful to the dermatologic surgeon.” – by Bruce Thiel

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.