136 the beveled edges 146 and 148 can assist when inserting the implant 10 into the intervertebral space 14 the instrument 132 defines longitudinally extending and laterally opposing inner guide surfaces 150 and 152 of the arms 140 and 142 respectively and an inner stop surface 154 that extends laterally between the arms 140 and 142 in the illustrated embodiment the distal edges 146 and 148 present laterally inner surfaces 147 and 149 respectively that are beveled or flared laterally outward with respect to the inner guide surfaces 150 and 152 along a longitudinal direction from the proximal end 136 toward the distal end 138 thus the distal edges 146 and 148 define a lateral width therebetween that is greater than the lateral width disposed between the inner guide surfaces 150 and 152 the width disposed between the arms 140 and 142 thus tapers outwardly with respect to the longitudinal axis l at the distal end 138 of the instrument 132 the tapered width facilitates engagement of the instrument 132 with the endplate 20 referring now to fig2 and 8 the gap 144 has a lateral dimension substantially equal to or slightly greater than the lateral width that separates the opposing side walls 43 of the keel body 42 and thus also has a lateral dimension substantially equal to or slightly greater than the lateral width that separates.