A shaft component 52 for a surgical instrument, component 52 comprising: first and second ends 58&56 that are respectively distal and proximal to an end effector 424 of the surgical instrument； and a tubular body between first and second ends 58&56 that permit’s torsional elastic deformation of the tubular body about a longitudinal axis of the surgical instrument under a loading torque, the end effector being elastically rotatable with respect to the first end 58. Preferably the tubular body comprises two axially arranged sections with an arm 524 extending axially between them enabling torsional elastic deformation of the tubular body about the surgical instrument’s longitudinal axis under the loading torque. Arm 524 may be formed between two slots 522&524, where each slot 522&524 may comprise first & second portions, the first portion being orthogonal to surgical instrument’s longitudinal axis and the second portion being parallel to the surgical instrument’s longitudinal axis, the two slots 522&524 being interdigitated. Also a surgical instrument comprising a shaft component 52. Described application in instruments with an inner blade 54 rotating in a tube 42, where torsional elastic deformation of component 52 reduces impact damage caused by debris trapped between blade & tube 54&42.
