A rod bender for bending a surgical rod includes first and second arms. The first arm includes first and second engaging portions. The second arm includes third and fourth engaging portions. The rod bender is reconfigurable between a first configuration in which the second and fourth engaging portions of the respective first and second arms engage the surgical rod such that spreading of the first and third engaging portions of the respective first and second arms bends the surgical rod in a first orientation and a second configuration in which the first engaging portion of the first arm and the fourth engaging portion of the second arm engage the surgical rod such that spreading of the second engaging portion of the first arm and the third engaging portion of the second arm bends the surgical rod in a second orientation opposite to the first orientation.