A strut configured to be connected to a pair of external bone fixation members along a strut axis, the strut comprising: a strut body that includes a threaded rod and a sleeve, the threaded rod including a rod body that is elongate along the strut axis, the rod body defining an outer surface that is at least partially threaded, and the sleeve including a sleeve body and a sleeve bore that extends at least into the sleeve body, the sleeve bore configured to receive at least a portion of the threaded rod such that the threaded rod is translatable relative to the sleeve along the strut axis; and an actuator supported by the strut body and threadedly attached to the threaded rod, such that rotation of the actuator relative to the threaded rod about the strut axis translates at least one or both of the threaded rod and the sleeve relative to the other of the threaded rod and the sleeve along the strut axis, the actuator including a gripping member that is configured to receive a torque that rotates the actuator relative to the threaded rod about the strut axis; wherein the gripping member includes a body and a gripping member bore that extends through the body of the gripping member, the body of the gripping member having an inner surface that at least partially defines the gripping member bore and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, the gripping member bore is configured to at least partially receive the strut body, and the gripping member further includes a projection that extends out from the outer surface of the gripping member body in a direction away from the inner surface of the gripping member body, wherein the actuator further includes a locking mechanism configured to prevent rotation of the actuator relative to the threaded rod, characterized in that the locking mechanism includes a lever and a biasing member, and the biasing member is configured to exert a biasing force on the lever such that the locking mechanism is biased toward a locked configuration in which the locking mechanism prevents rotation of the actuator relative to the threaded rod about the strut axis. a strut body that includes a threaded rod and a sleeve, the threaded rod including a rod body that is elongate along the strut axis, the rod body defining an outer surface that is at least partially threaded, and the sleeve including a sleeve body and a sleeve bore that extends at least into the sleeve body, the sleeve bore configured to receive at least a portion of the threaded rod such that the threaded rod is translatable relative to the sleeve along the strut axis; and an actuator supported by the strut body and threadedly attached to the threaded rod, such that rotation of the actuator relative to the threaded rod about the strut axis translates at least one or both of the threaded rod and the sleeve relative to the other of the threaded rod and the sleeve along the strut axis, the actuator including a gripping member that is configured to receive a torque that rotates the actuator relative to the threaded rod about the strut axis; wherein the gripping member includes a body and a gripping member bore that extends through the body of the gripping member, the body of the gripping member having an inner surface that at least partially defines the gripping member bore and an outer surface opposite the inner surface, the gripping member bore is configured to at least partially receive the strut body, and the gripping member further includes a projection that extends out from the outer surface of the gripping member body in a direction away from the inner surface of the gripping member body, wherein the actuator further includes a locking mechanism configured to prevent rotation of the actuator relative to the threaded rod, characterized in that the locking mechanism includes a lever and a biasing member, and the biasing member is configured to exert a biasing force on the lever such that the locking mechanism is biased toward a locked configuration in which the locking mechanism prevents rotation of the actuator relative to the threaded rod about the strut axis.