An orthopaedic surgical instrument includes an orthopaedic distraction device sized to be positioned between a distal end of a patient's femur and a proximal end of the patient's tibia and configured to apply force between the patient's femur and the patient's tibia. The orthopaedic surgical instrument also includes a user-operated control device operable to actuate the orthopaedic distraction device to apply force between the patient's femur and the patient's tibia. In actuating the orthopaedic distraction device, a rotary input of the user-operated control device that is coupled to the orthopaedic distraction device may be used. The orthopaedic surgical instrument also includes a display positioned on an outer surface of the orthopaedic distraction device and a circuit configured to control the display. The display is configured to provide visual feedback indicative of force applied by the distraction device.