An articulating surgical rod bender assembly includes first and second support members pivotably connected at an interface, a first drive wheel rotatably attached to the first support member, a second drive wheel rotatably attached to the first support member and coupled with the first drive wheel, and means for rotating the first drive wheel so that rotation of the first drive wheel causes rotation of the second drive wheel to advance a surgical rod through the assembly. The assembly also includes a guide element selectively positionable so that a surgical rod positioned with a first side contacting the first drive wheel, an opposing second side contacting the second drive wheel, and one of the first and second sides contacting the guide element is bent to a desired curvature or radius of curvature by the guide element and the first and/or second drive wheels as is passes through the assembly.
