A rod inserter tool for inserting a rod into a surgical site, and a rod inserter tool assembly is provided. The tool includes a handle disposed at a proximal end of a shaft. An interior rod actuates the rod so as to rotate the rod generally 90 degrees. In one embodiment, the rod inserter tool includes a rack-and-pinion mechanism that is configured to slide out of the shaft and to rotate the rod about an axis orthogonal to the shaft. In another embodiment, the interior rod is rotatably coupled to the rod so as to rotate the rod when driven axially. In one embodiment, the handle is threaded to an interior of the shaft.