A surgical saw blade (702) comprising an elongated blade bar formed from lower and upper plates (502a,504a), respectively, is described. The blade bar has opposed proximal and distal sections and a longitudinal center axis that extends between the proximal and distal sections. The proximal section has a proximal end (720) of the blade bar and a feature for releasably holding the blade bar to a powered surgical sagittal saw. The distal section is formed with a void space and a primary opening into the void space, wherein the blade bar plates are spaced apart from each other so as to form in the blade bar distal section the void space. A blade head has a base (496a) disposed in the blade bar distal section void space that is pivotally mounted in the blade bar distal section void space. At least one drive rod (74a) has a distal end moveably attached to the blade head base and a proximal end adjacent blade bar proximal section. The proximal end is adapted to be attached to a drive member integral with the surgical sagittal saw. The blade bar is further formed so that the proximal section has opposed side edges (722) that extend forward from the blade bar proximal end, wherein at least one of the side edges tapers outwardly relative to the longitudinal center axis of the blade bar. Forward of the blade bar proximal section having the outwardly tapered side edge the blade bar is formed so that the distal section has a constant width.
