An orthopedic handle gripping assembly comprising: an elongated shaft having a proximal section and a distal section opposite thereof along a longitudinal axis of the shaft a hub portion proximate the distal section of the shaft a gripping member contiguous with the hub portion and having a first jaw and a second jaw, the first and second jaws being separated by a predefined distance to thereby form a central opening for receiving an orthopedic component that is to be gripped by the gripping member a handle coupled to and extending from the gripping member and a slot formed into the hub portion, the slot being configured to allow at least a portion of the handle to be manually biased towards the elongated shaft to thereby increase the predefined distance between the first and second jaws.
