Instruments (e.g. 40) for use in anterior approach total hip arthroplasty. Instruments according to certain features of the invention connect to a shaping member (e.g., 42) such as a broach, reamer or osteotome that is used to prepare the intramedullary canal (30) of a desired femur (18) or other bone for total hip arthroplasty. Such an instrument according to such features can be configurable to allow operation on either the left or right leg, and in doing so to provide lateral offset and anterior offset (e.g., 48) of the instrument handle (e.g., 44) relative to the shaping member so that the patient's gut, musculature or other bodily portions may be avoided while still providing desired leverage and control over the shaping member to prepare the intramedullary canal.
