A surgical rongeur for cutting bone or tissue is provided. The rongeur has
an elongated track member, and a generally hollow cutting slide defining
an inner cavity slidably received within the track member. The distal end
of the cutting slide terminates in a sharp cutting edge and an opening.
The distal end of the track member terminates in a foot plate. The
cutting slide is longitudinally movable relative to the track member from
a first open position to a second closed position. In the first open
position, there is an opening between the sharp cutting edge and the foot
plate, in which opening the bone to be cut is placed. In the second
closed position the sharp cutting edge contacts the foot plate, cuts the
bone and pushes the bone chip through the opening into the inner cavity
of the cutting slide, where multiple bone chips may be stored.