A rongeur comprising a bottom shaft comprising a proximal end, a distal end terminating in a footplate, a substantially flat upper surface extending along the bottom shaft, and a groove characterized by a wider proximal recess and a narrower distal recess comprising an undercut a top shaft comprising a proximal end, a distal end, a substantially flat bottom surface extending along the top shaft, and a tongue characterized by a crossbar connected to the flat bottom surface by a vertical riser wherein the flat bottom surface rests on the flat upper surface 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 proximal recess into the distal recess and further wherein the top shaft comprises a passageway for admitting air into the portion of the proximal recess vacated by the tongue.
