Surgical cable passer instruments and methods for passing surgical cable around a bone through a surgical incision are disclosed. First and second handle tube portions comprise respective cable guide tubes and handle extensions. A proximal portion of the cable guide tube portions is fixed to a distal portion of the respective handle extension. Each handle tube portions comprise a cannula extending between a near port at a proximal end and a far port at a distal end for passage of surgical cable therebetween. Arc segments of a first cable guide tube and a second cable guide tube define a bone aperture therebetween for passing around a bone. A releasable hinge portion joins a first handle tube portion and a second handle tube portion at distal ends of a first and second handle extension.
