What is described is a surgical instrument for manipulating a bent surgical wire. The surgical instrument is particularly suitable for inserting one or both ends of a wire, which is bent in the shape of a U, in apertures provided for that purpose in a bone plate. The instrument possesses two jaws that can be moved relative to one another for the purpose of generating a gripping force, at least one of the jaws having a wire-receiving device which positions a bent wire, which is to be received, in a plane substantially parallel to the direction of gripping force.