Use of the BendMeister rod bender for occipitocervical fusion: technical note.

The creation of various curves in bendable metallic rods remains difficult. We describe a simple instrument that uses two bending levers to provide the mechanical advantage required to easily shape up to 5.5 mm diameter bendable metallic rods with precision, control, and minimal nicking or scratching of the metal surface. We have successfully used this tool to contour primary and secondary curvatures in threaded Steinmann pins and grooved titanium rods for occipitocervical fusion.