SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS FOR PERFORMING TONSILLECTOMY, ADENOIDECTOMY, AND OTHER SURGICAL PROCEDURES

An end-effector of a surgical instrument, comprising first and second jaw members each jaw member comprising: a jaw frame including at least one proximal flange and a distal jaw support extending distally from the at least one proximal flange; a spacer defining a body and a wing disposed on either side of the body, the body defining a channel configured to receive the distal jaw support, each wing defining a slot; an electrically-conductive plate defining a tissue-contacting portion and first and second legs extending from the tissue-contacting portion in perpendicular orientation relative thereto, the tissue-contacting portion configured to sit atop the body of the spacer, each of the first and second legs configured for receipt within the slot defined within one of the wings of the spacer; and an outer housing at least partially surrounding the distal jaw support, spacer, and first and second legs of the electrically-conductive plate and configured to retain the distal jaw support, spacer, and electrically-conductive plate in position relative to one another.