What Is a Towel Clamp? | Surgical Basics Explained

A towel clamp is a surgical instrument that holds drapes and towels in place to maintain a sterile field during procedures.

If you’ve ever wondered what a towel clamp is, the short answer is simple: it’s a manual instrument used in operating rooms to secure surgical towels and drapes. Whether you’re a medical student, a surgical tech, or just curious about the tools behind modern medicine, understanding this device comes down to a few key facts.

Here’s what you need to know, from how it works to which design fits which job.

What Does a Towel Clamp Do?

A towel clamp grips surgical drapes and towels, anchoring them to the patient’s skin or to other surfaces. The goal is to keep the operative field sterile and clearly defined throughout the procedure.

In practice, these clamps do more than hold fabric. Some versions secure cables, leads, or tubes during surgery, keeping them out of the surgeon’s way. The instrument’s design allows it to penetrate drape material and grip firmly without slipping, even when the patient moves or the surgical team adjusts position.

Manufacturer documentation for models like the Backhaus and Roeder towel clamps consistently describes the same core purpose: maintaining a clean, organized surgical area.

What Are the Different Types of Towel Clamps?

There is no single “standard” towel clamp. Surgical teams choose from several designs based on the material being clamped and the body area involved.

Common models include the Backhaus, Hoff, Bernhard, Schaedel, Roeder, Jones, Lorna (Edna), and Doyen towel clamps. Here’s how the main designs differ:

• Backhaus Towel Clamp: Scissor-like ring handles with curved pointed jaws and a ratchet lock. Available in 9 cm (3.5″) and 13 cm (5.25″) lengths. Autoclavable and reusable.
• Hoff Towel Clamp Forceps: Non-perforated with bent tips and cross-serrated rounded tips. Uses a ratchet-lock finger-ring handle. Reusable and autoclavable.
• Lorna (Edna) Non-Perforating Clamp: Curved inward serrated jaws measuring 13.3 cm. Fine serrated tips with a finger-ring ratchet lock. Common in oral and dental surgery.
• Roeder Towel Clamp: Curved jaws with ball stops and a ratchet self-locking system. Designed for holding sterile drapes in the surgical field.
• Doyen Towel Clamp: Features 2 x 2 sharp prongs that traverse two drapes at a corner and the patient’s skin beneath them.
• Jones Towel Clamp: Uses 1 x 1 prongs at the working end.

Most versions are built from surgical-grade stainless steel or German surgical stainless steel, making them durable enough for repeated sterilization. Some models are designed as single-use devices and should be discarded after one procedure.

How Do You Use a Towel Clamp Correctly?

Using a towel clamp is straightforward, but technique matters. Here’s the standard procedure for most models:

1. Position the drape or towel where it needs to sit on the patient or surgical surface.
2. Align the clamp’s jaws on the drape material at the point you want to secure it.
3. Press the finger rings together until the ratchet or ball-and-socket lock engages.
4. Confirm the material is held firmly but without excessive pressure that could damage tissue.

What you’ll see when it works: the drape stays put even when you pull gently on it, and the clamp’s lock holds without slipping open.

One critical safety note stands out. The Hoff Non-Perforated Towel Clamp’s product documentation explicitly states the instrument should never be used on the patient’s skin. Non-perforating designs are meant for drapes and materials only, not tissue. Perforating clamps like the Doyen, with its sharp prongs, are the ones designed to pass through skin when that’s necessary — and even then, they’re used on anesthetized patients in a sterile field.

Where Is a Towel Clamp Used?

Towel clamps appear across nearly every surgical specialty. Sources document their use in general surgery, gynecology and obstetrics, ENT procedures, orthopedics, plastic surgery, oral and maxillofacial surgery, neurosurgery and spine work, urology, cardiovascular cases, and dental surgery.

Reusable stainless-steel versions are autoclavable, meaning they can be sterilized and used again. Single-use versions, by contrast, arrive sterile and get discarded after the case. The choice between them depends on the facility’s protocols and the specific application.

If you’re in the market for a specific model, the best Backhaus towel clamp options and buying guidance cover the top picks in detail.

FAQs

Is a towel clamp the same as a towel forceps?

Yes. Towel clamp, towel forceps, and towel clip all refer to the same category of surgical instrument. The names are used interchangeably across manufacturer documentation and hospital supply catalogs. The device holds drapes and towels in position, and the label changes based on regional preference or institutional habit rather than any functional difference.

Can a towel clamp damage the patient?

It can, if used incorrectly. Perforating clamps like the Doyen pass through skin by design, so they’re only used on anesthetized patients in a sterile field. Non-perforating clamps like the Hoff model are explicitly labeled as unsafe for skin contact. For both types, excessive pressure can crush tissue or tear drapes. Proper positioning and correct clamp selection prevent most complications.

How do you sterilize a reusable towel clamp?

Reusable stainless-steel towel clamps are autoclavable. Standard practice involves cleaning the instrument, wrapping it in sterilization packaging, and running it through an autoclave cycle per hospital protocol. Single-use versions skip this step entirely — they arrive sterile and go in the disposal bin after the procedure.