Surgical instrument for moving vertebrae

1. A method of moving a first bone segment relative to a second bone segment in a body comprising:

extending a surgical instrument having a first portion and a second portion through an access device comprising an elongate body having a longitudinal axis and having a proximal end and a distal end defining a working space accessible therethrough, the working space providing access to the first and second bone segments;

engaging the first portion of the surgical instrument with a first member connected with the first bone segment, the first portion having a distal tip configured to mate with a proximal head of the first member;

coupling a distal end of the second portion of the surgical instrument with the second bone segment, the second portion having a distal end engageable with a second member connected with the second bone segment, and a proximal end with a slot configured to receive part of the first portion, the slot having an edge configured to contact a surface on the first portion; and

pivoting the proximal end of the second portion of the surgical instrument relative to the first portion by pivoting the edge against the surface on the first portion, without moving the first portion of the surgical instrument in a direction extending transverse to the first member to move the first and second bone segments relative to each other.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising pivoting the second portion relative to an actuator that moves the second portion relative to the first portion.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising moving the actuator in a direction extending parallel to the first portion to pivot the second portion relative to the first portion.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising moving the distal end of the second portion away from the first portion to move the first and second bone segments away from each other.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising moving the distal end of the second portion toward the first portion to move the first and second bone segments toward each other.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising pivoting the second portion relative to the first portion between a first position at a first angle from the longitudinal axis to a second position at a second angle from the longitudinal axis.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first angle is larger than the second angle.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the first angle is smaller than the second angle.

9. A method of moving a first bone segment relative to a second bone segment in a body comprising:

providing an access device having an elongate body with a longitudinal axis and proximal and distal ends defining a working space accessible therethrough, the working space providing access to the first and second bone segments;

providing a surgical instrument comprising:

a first longitudinal member with a distal end engageable with a connector connected to the first bone segment;

a second longitudinal member having a path extending therethrough configured to receive a portion of the first longitudinal member; and

a pivoting member having a slot configured to receive a portion of the second longitudinal member, the slot having an edge configured to contact a surface on the second longitudinal member, the pivoting member having a distal end engageable with a connector connected to the second bone segment;

inserting the access device to position the distal end adjacent the first and second bone segments;

extending the surgical instrument through the access device;

engaging the distal end of the first longitudinal member with a first connector connected to the first bone segment;

engaging the distal end of the pivoting member with a second connector connected to the second bone segment; and

pivoting the pivoting member relative to the second longitudinal member by pivoting the edge against the surface on the second longitudinal member to move the first and second bone segments relative to each other.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the pivoting step is performed without moving the first or second longitudinal members in a direction extending transverse to the first longitudinal member.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein when a portion of the second longitudinal member is received within the slot, the edge contacts a surface on the second longitudinal member such that the pivoting member is actuatable to pivot relative to the second longitudinal member.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the distal end of the pivoting member has a recess configured to receive an elongate member connected between the first and second bone segments.