An instrument and method for reducing a vertebral rod into an anchor attached to a vertebral member. The instrument may include a gripper configured to attach to an anchor, an elongated shaft extending along a longitudinal axis between opposing jaws of the gripper, and a reducing element disposed at least partially outside the first and second jaws of the gripper and configured to engage with the vertebral rod. A release device may also be disposed about the elongated shaft and may be movable relative thereto such that the release device may be selectively engaged with a threaded outer surface of the elongated shaft. The reducing element may therefore be alternatively slidable relative to the gripper or threadably movable relative to the gripper by interaction with the elongated shaft, depending on a position of the release device.
