An instrument for bending a surgical implant about a bending axis includes a handle defining a receiving area for receiving the surgical implant. A lever is pivotably connected to the handle about a pivot axis that can be orthogonal to the bending axis. A movable linkage can be connected to the lever for movement with the lever. The moveable linkage can be configured to bend the surgical implant about the bending axis upon pivoting the lever about the pivot axis.