A torque wrench as a ratchet instrument for medical technology, including receiving opening which has head region, neck region adjoining head region, rod-shaped actuating lever fastened to neck region for application of torque to the head region, and enclosure forming receiving opening of head region. Furthermore, torque wrench includes spring clip and latching lug formed thereon. The latching lug in rest position of latching lug protrudes into receiving opening and in entraining portion of latching lug is intended to interact with counterpart surface of insertion instrument inserted into enclosure during rotation in tightening direction of actuating lever in entraining position. The latching lug is intended to move into release position during rotation contrary to tightening direction against force of spring clip, in order to provide free running between head region and insertion instrument. The enclosure has break extending over entire cross-section of enclosure and forms spring clip.