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 bore that extends at least into the sleeve body along the strut axis , the bore configured to receive at least a portion of the threaded rod such that the threaded rod is translatable in the bore relative to the sleeve along the strut axis ; 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 causes at least one or both of the threaded rod and the sleeve to translate relative to the other of the threaded rod and the sleeve along the strut axis ; and a locking mechanism supported by the actuator , characterized in that the locking mechanism is pivotable relative to the actuator , about a pivot axis , between a locked configuration whereby the locking mechanism prevents the actuator from rotating relative to the threaded rod along a direction of rotation about the strut axis , and an unlocked configuration whereby the locking mechanism does not prevent the actuator from rotating relative to the threaded rod along a direction of rotation about the strut axis , the locking mechanism including a locking mechanism body and a biasing member that exerts a biasing force on the locking mechanism body that biases the locking mechanism from the unlocked configuration toward the locked configuration, the biasing member oriented such that the biasing force is exerted in a direction that is angularly offset with respect to both the strut axis and the pivot axis ; wherein the pivot axis is angularly offset with respect to 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 bore that extends at least into the sleeve body along the strut axis , the bore configured to receive at least a portion of the threaded rod such that the threaded rod is translatable in the bore relative to the sleeve along the strut axis ; 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 causes at least one or both of the threaded rod and the sleeve to translate relative to the other of the threaded rod and the sleeve along the strut axis ; and a locking mechanism supported by the actuator , characterized in that the locking mechanism is pivotable relative to the actuator , about a pivot axis , between a locked configuration whereby the locking mechanism prevents the actuator from rotating relative to the threaded rod along a direction of rotation about the strut axis , and an unlocked configuration whereby the locking mechanism does not prevent the actuator from rotating relative to the threaded rod along a direction of rotation about the strut axis , the locking mechanism including a locking mechanism body and a biasing member that exerts a biasing force on the locking mechanism body that biases the locking mechanism from the unlocked configuration toward the locked configuration, the biasing member oriented such that the biasing force is exerted in a direction that is angularly offset with respect to both the strut axis and the pivot axis ; wherein the pivot axis is angularly offset with respect to the strut axis . <EOS>