An apparatus is provided for a surgical bending instrument 100 for bending surgical implants. The surgical bending instrument 100 comprises a body 108 including a longitudinally extending threaded hole. A shaft 144 comprising a threaded portion is rotatably engaged within the threaded hole. A handle 104 is coupled to a proximal end of the shaft, and a distal extension of the shaft comprises a driver 128. A distal force applicator 112 comprises the driver 128 centered between a first grip and a second grip 120, 124. In some embodiments, the distal force applicator 112 is configured to retain a surgical staple 116, such that the surgical staple 116 may be changed to a distracted configuration suitable for implantation at a bone fixation or fusion site of a patient. In some embodiments, the distal force applicator 12 is configured to bend a bone fusion plate so as to tailor the plate to specific anatomy of the patient's bone.
