There is disclosed a tool for use with a hollow screw extender housing configured to be coupled to a screw assembly implanted into vertebrae. The tool comprises a static first shaft including a first proximal portion with a handle, a first curved mid-portion, and a first distal portion with a rod-receiving groove configured to receive an end of the spinal rod, a sliding second shaft including a second proximal portion coupled with a rotary mechanism, a second curved midportion, and a second distal portion, and a control mechanism on the handle arranged to actuate the rotary mechanism to translate the second shaft relative to the first shaft and engage the second distal portion with an end of a spinal rod received in the rod-receiving groove. There is also disclosed a method for grasping a spinal rod.
