A method of traumatizing a pair of adjacent vertebral endplates may provide a surgical instrument having a pivoting distal removable insert, a proximal handle portion, a body portion, and a linkage member positioned between the insert and the proximal handle portion, the insert having a first angular position relative to the body. A leading end of the insert may be placed in a first position between two adjacent vertebral endplates and moved to a second position between the adjacent vertebral endplates by impacting the proximal end portion of the surgical instrument. The insert may be pivoted to a second angular position relative to the body portion by rotating the handle about the body portion and may lock the second angular position of the distal insert. The insert may be moved to a third position between the adjacent vertebral endplates by impacting the proximal end portion of the surgical instrument.