An instrument for bending a surgical rod includes first and second arm assemblies. The first arm assembly includes first and second arms having respective first and second receiving portions configured to receive the surgical rod therein. The second arm assembly includes third and fourth arms having respective third and fourth receiving portions configured to receive the surgical rod therein. The instrument is reconfigurable from an initial configuration in which the first and third receiving portions of the respective first and third arms engage the surgical rod such that transitioning the first and third arms towards each other bends the surgical rod in a first orientation and transitioning the first and third arms away from each other bends the surgical rod in a second orientation opposite to the first orientation.