A method of contouring spinal rods, and systems therefor. The surgeon uses image guided surgery instruments to identify the locations of the screw heads through which the rod will pass. These locations allow a computer to form a best fit line that corresponds to the shape of a rod that can pass through the screw heads. This best fit line is then displayed on a projection table from both its coronal and sagittal views. The surgeon then shapes the rod using these 2-D images as a template.
