A shapeable passer for surgical cable or suture is made from a flexible tubular extrusion which includes at least one lumen arranged to receive the leading end of a surgical cable or suture, and at least one lumen arranged to contain a malleable stiffener element. The lumens and stiffener element are arranged parallel to each other and lengthwise along the long axis of the extrusion, such that the malleable stiffener element enables the malleable portion of the passer to be shaped as desired. The leading ends of the lumens are preferably sealed, capped or tipped, while the trailing ends of the lumens arranged to receive the surgical cables or sutures are preferably flared to facilitate manual insertion of the cables or sutures.
