Medical cutting instrument

A medical instrument for severing connecting rods, in particular, of implanted spinal column stabilization systems, comprising:

• a first cutting element and a second cutting element which are pivotal relative to each other about a pivotal axis,
• a first handle element and a second handle element which are moveable relative to each other, and
• a force transmission device which is coupled to the first handle element and the second handle element and to the first cutting element and the second cutting element for the purpose of transferring an actuating force from the first handle element and the second handle element to the first cutting element and the second cutting element,
• wherein:
• the first handle element and the second handle element are arranged or formed at least one of to be rotatable relative to each other about a handle axis and to be movable relative to each other about the handle axis,
• the handle axis and the pivotal axis run transversely to each other,
• the first cutting element comprises a distal end having a first cutter with a first cutting edge,
• the second cutting element comprises a distal end having a second cutter with a second cutting edge,
• the first cutting edge is directed substantially towards the second cutting edge,
• the second cutting edge is directed substantially towards the first cutting edge, and
• the first cutter and the second cutter are pivotal with their respective cutting edges about the pivotal axis towards each other and away from each other in a plane running perpendicular to the pivotal axis so as to allow the medical instrument to be placed across a circumference of a connecting rod from above, with the pivotal axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of the connecting rod.