Insert guide members for surgical instruments, and related devices, systems, and methods

A surgical instrument includes a shaft, an end effector, and a wrist coupling the end effector to the shaft. The wrist has a central channel extending along a length of the wrist. An insert guide member is positioned in the central channel. The insert guide member has an exterior lateral wall extending between a first end and a second end of the insert guide member and an interior lateral wall extending between the first end and the second end. A passage extends from the first end of the insert guide member to the second end of the insert guide member. The passage can include a first portion extending through the insert guide member between an interior lateral wall of the insert guide member and the exterior lateral wall of the insert guide member, and a second portion intersecting the exterior lateral wall of the insert guide member.