An implant inserter is adapted to secure and facilitate insertion of a surgical implant. The implant has an inserter attachment interface having a narrow external opening at a surface thereof and a broader internal opening. The implant inserter includes a handle and an inserter shaft. The implant inserter also includes a pair of flexible tabs extending from a distal end of the inserter shaft with laterally extending protrusions adapted to extend into the broader internal opening and an expansion shaft adapted to selectively extend between the flexible tabs whereby the expansion shaft prevents flexion of the flexible tabs such that the laterally extending protrusions secure the surgical implant, and whereby when the expansion shaft does not extend between the flexible tabs, the flexible tabs can be flexed inwardly to cause the laterally extending protrusions to have a narrower profile that is able to be passed through the narrow external opening.