A surgical instrument, comprising: a housing having an elongated shaft extending distally therefrom, the elongated shaft supporting an end effector for treating tissue; at least one actuator adapted for manipulation by a user to control the end effector; at least one tensile member (66, 68) extending at least partially through the elongated shaft, the at least one tensile member including a proximal end (66b, 68b) operatively coupled to the at least one actuator and a distal end (66a, 68a) operatively coupled to the end effector such that manipulation of the at least one actuator induces movement of the at least one tensile member to move the end effector; a de-tensioning mechanism operatively associated with the at least one tensile member to move the at least one tensile member between a first relaxed configuration to a second stressed configuration wherein the proximal and distal ends of the at least one tensile member are spaced at a greater distance from one another relative to the first relaxed configuration, the de-tensioning mechanism including a spacer insertable into a cavity defined in the housing to move the tensile member to the first relaxed configuration and removable from the cavity to move the at least one tensile member to the second stressed configuration; a flange that protrudes radially from a proximal portion of the elongated shaft that extends into the housing; a spring supported within a cavity defined in the housing, the spring supported in the cavity such that the spring imparts a distally directed longitudinal force on the flange to bias the elongated shaft in a distal direction; and the spacer is insertable into the cavity to maintain the flange and the elongated shaft in a proximal position, the spacer removable from the cavity to permit the flange and the elongated shaft to move in a distal direction under the influence of the spring, wherein movement of the elongated shaft in the distal direction moves the at least one tensile member from the first relaxed configuration to the second stressed configuration a housing having an elongated shaft extending distally therefrom, the elongated shaft supporting an end effector for treating tissue; at least one actuator adapted for manipulation by a user to control the end effector; at least one tensile member (66, 68) extending at least partially through the elongated shaft, the at least one tensile member including a proximal end (66b, 68b) operatively coupled to the at least one actuator and a distal end (66a, 68a) operatively coupled to the end effector such that manipulation of the at least one actuator induces movement of the at least one tensile member to move the end effector; a de-tensioning mechanism operatively associated with the at least one tensile member to move the at least one tensile member between a first relaxed configuration to a second stressed configuration wherein the proximal and distal ends of the at least one tensile member are spaced at a greater distance from one another relative to the first relaxed configuration, the de-tensioning mechanism including a spacer insertable into a cavity defined in the housing to move the tensile member to the first relaxed configuration and removable from the cavity to move the at least one tensile member to the second stressed configuration; a flange that protrudes radially from a proximal portion of the elongated shaft that extends into the housing; a spring supported within a cavity defined in the housing, the spring supported in the cavity such that the spring imparts a distally directed longitudinal force on the flange to bias the elongated shaft in a distal direction; and the spacer is insertable into the cavity to maintain the flange and the elongated shaft in a proximal position, the spacer removable from the cavity to permit the flange and the elongated shaft to move in a distal direction under the influence of the spring, wherein movement of the elongated shaft in the distal direction moves the at least one tensile member from the first relaxed configuration to the second stressed configuration