A rongeur comprising:a bottom shaft comprising a proximal end and a distal end and a substantially flat upper surface extending along at least a portion of the bottom shaft, the distal end terminating in a footplatea top shaft comprising a proximal end and a distal end and a substantially flat bottom surface extending along at least a portion of the top shaftwherein the bottom shaft comprises a groove characterized by a wider proximal recess and a narrower distal recess, the distal recess comprising an undercutwherein the top shaft comprises a tongue characterized by a crossbar connected to the bottom surface of the top shaft by a vertical riserwherein at least a portion of the flat bottom surface of the top shaft rests on at least a portion of the flat upper surface of the bottom shaft and the tongue is slidably disposed in the groove so that when the top shaft is moved distally relative to the bottom shaft, the tongue slides from the wider proximal recess into the narrower distal recessand further wherein the top shaft comprises at least one passageway for admitting air into the portion of the wider proximal recess vacated by the tongue.
