A surgical shaving instrument (1) comprises a main body (2), a hollow elongateshaft (4)extending from the main body (2). The elongate shaft (4) defines an elongateinner openvolume through the shaft. A tip portion (18) extends from the distal endregion of the elongateshaft (4). A driveshaft extends through the elongate shaft (4) from the mainbody (2) to thedistal end region of the elongate shaft (4). A cutter head (12) is attached tothe driveshaft andlocated in the tip portion (10), the cutter head (12) extends at leastpartially out of the tip portion(18). The tip portion (18) is of an electrically insulating ceramic material,and has an outersurface. An electrically conductive electrode is located on at least part ofthat outer surface.
