By Magnus Balslev Avnstorp, MD, Stig Steinfurth, MD, Christoffer Bing Madsen, med. student, and Nathalie Fryd, med.student

Incision Principles

1. Mark the planned incision line.
2. Hold the scalpel in your dominant hand.

• The pencil grip: The scalpel is held between your first and second finger, resting in the anatomical ‘snuff box’. This is well-suited for short and precise incisions.
• The alternative overhand/fingertip grip: The scalpel is held between your first and third finger using the second finger to apply pressure when cutting. This grip is better for longer incisions that do not necessarily require the same exact precision as when using the pencil grip.

3. The incision is performed using a firm continous movement with the cutting blade lying firmly on the skin.
4. Use your non-dominant hand to stretch the skin around the incision.

Incision on a phantom