Surgical instruments and methods for performing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy procedures

A method of surgery, comprising:

• positioning an end effector assembly relative to tissue, the end effector assembly including first and second jaw members, each jaw member defining outer lateral sides and having an opposed surface disposed between the outer lateral sides, the opposed surfaces defining a grasping area therebetween, the grasping area defining a length extending between proximal and distal ends of the opposed surfaces and a width extending between first and second sides of the opposed surfaces, the end effector assembly further including a tissue-treating plate disposed on each of the jaw members, the tissue-treating plates defining a tissue-treating area therebetween, the tissue-treating area defining a width less than the width of the grasping area, each of the jaw members defining a knife channel therein, each knife channel extending along at least a portion of the length of the grasping area within the grasping area at a position laterally offset from the outer lateral sides of the first and second jaw members, the knife channel of each of the jaw members separating the tissue-treating area from a non-tissue treating area, the non-tissue treating area extending along the entire knife channel of each of the jaw members, wherein the end effector assembly is positioned relative to the tissue such that the knife channels are disposed between a first portion of the tissue and a second portion of the tissue;
• moving at least one of the jaw members relative to the other from a spaced-apart position to an approximated position to grasp the first portion of the tissue within the tissue-treating area and to grasp the second portion of the tissue within the grasping area but outside of the tissue-treating area;
• energizing the tissue-treating plates to conduct energy through the first portion of the tissue to treat the first portion of the tissue without treating the second portion of the tissue with the energy;
• and
• advancing a knife at least partially through the knife channels such that the knife is advanced between the jaw members along the at least the portion of the length of the grasping area within the grasping area at the position laterally offset from the outer lateral sides of the jaw members and the tissue-treating area to cut tissue between the first portion of the tissue and the second portion of the tissue, thereby separating the second portion of the tissue from the first portion of the tissue.