A medical implement particularly useful in arthroscopic surgery, includes: ahandle having a proximal end configuredfor manual gripping by a user, a distal end for manipulation during thesurgery, an internal passageway extending through thehandle from the proximal end to the distal end thereof, and a longitudinally-extending slot extending longitudinally through thehandle from its outer surface to the passageway for side-loading the handlewith a manipulatable member to be manipulated duringsurgery. A shield is located within the passageway in the handle. The shieldis secured along one edge to the inner surface ofhandle defining the passageway, and includes an elastic section normallycovering the longitudinally-extending slot. The elasticsection of the shield is yieldable to permit side-loading of the manipulatablemember into the passageway, but to prevent a sideloadedmanipulatable member from passing outwardly from the passageway.
