A surgical instrument for manipulating and positioning a surgical rod relative to a surgical implant features two legs rotatably coupled to each other by a hinge. Each leg includes a working end. The working ends come into engagement with the implant upon closing the instrument by rotating the legs around the hinge and pivotally position the instrument relative to the implant around a swivel axis transverse to its longitudinal axis. At least one of the legs includes a contact structure for a surgical rod by which the rod is manipulated and positioned upon swiveling the instrument around the swivel axis relative to a rod seating of the implant. At least one of the legs includes a guide structure for guiding a fixation screw, to be screwed in, for the rod and/or for a tool for screwing in the fixation screw after having positioned the rod in the rod seating.
