Micro Crocodile Ear Forceps

What it is

The Micro Crocodile Ear Forceps is a slender, spring-action instrument with a toothed, hinged jaw — named for the serrated profile that resembles a crocodile's bite. Unlike the smooth cup jaw of ear cup forceps (designed for atraumatic graft handling), the crocodile jaw provides a positive, non-slip grip on irregular, fibrous, or waxy tissue that a cup jaw would compress and lose. The jaw opens and closes with single-action spring tension, giving the surgeon predictable, repeatable purchase in a confined canal.

When & how it's used

The standard instrument for ear canal work requiring a positive grip: removal of impacted cerumen plugs that resist microsuction, extraction of soft foreign bodies (foam, cotton, organic material), excision of aural polyps, and clearance of granulation tissue overlying a perforation or cholesteatoma. Also used during tympanoplasty and mastoid surgery to remove granulation from the middle-ear space where a cup jaw would provide insufficient grip. Frequently used under otoscope guidance in the clinic setting as well as under the operating microscope in theatre.

The Micro Crocodile Ear Forceps sits at the centre of any ear canal instrument tray. Its serrated jaw gives it purchase on tissue types that smooth-jawed instruments cannot reliably grip — impacted wax, friable polyps, fibrous granulation — making it the workhorse instrument for both clinic ear toileting and theatre dissection.

What makes the crocodile jaw different

The defining feature is the toothed, hinged jaw (hence the name). When closed, the serrations interdigitate, trapping tissue between them rather than simply compressing it. This matters most when working on:

• Waxy or greasy tissue — cerumen impaction that has been softened but not dislodged by suction
• Fibrous or vascular polyps — aural polyps arising from the tympanic membrane or middle ear mucosa
• Granulation tissue — particularly over a subtotal perforation or around a cholesteatoma margin, where cup forceps would crush and lose the tissue

The spring-action handle maintains consistent jaw-opening force across the working stroke, reducing the operator’s need to adjust grip mid-extraction.

Design features

• Serrated crocodile jaw: positive, non-slip purchase on irregular and fibrous tissue
• Spring-action single-handed control: jaw opens to rest position on release; no secondary thumb ring
• 14 cm working length: clears the tragus for adults; designed for use with or without an operating speculum
• Slender shaft profile: passes through a standard 4 mm aural speculum alongside a suction cannula if bimanual technique is used
• Stainless steel, fully autoclavable: withstands repeated steam sterilisation cycles without jaw-tip deformation

Crocodile vs cup forceps — when to use which

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a micro crocodile ear forceps used for? It is used primarily to remove foreign bodies, cerumen plugs, aural polyps, and granulation tissue from the ear canal and middle ear. The serrated jaw provides a secure grip on material that smooth-jawed instruments cannot reliably hold.

What is the difference between crocodile forceps and cup forceps? Crocodile forceps have toothed, interdigitating jaws for a firm grip on fibrous or irregular tissue. Cup forceps have smooth, cupped jaws designed for atraumatic handling of delicate material such as tympanic membrane grafts. The two instruments are complementary — most tympanoplasty trays include both.

Can crocodile ear forceps be used in clinic, or only in theatre? Both. Under otoscope guidance in a clinic setting, the straight variant is routinely used for cerumen removal and soft foreign body extraction. Under the operating microscope in theatre, directional variants (straight, left, right, up, down) are selected depending on the anatomical access required.

Are these instruments reusable? Yes. The Netcare Micro Crocodile Ear Forceps is manufactured from stainless steel and is fully autoclavable. It is designed for repeated sterilisation and reuse as part of a standard ENT instrument tray.