A spinal manipulating assembly for manipulating a patient's spine at a spinal surgical site in the patient, the spinal manipulating assembly comprising: a compressor/distractor mechanism including a first elongated arm having a proximal end and a distal end and a second elongated arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal ends (30, 36) being configured to be attached to one of spinal anatomy and vertebral screws located on adjacent vertebrae at the spinal surgical site; a flexible connection portion having a length, a proximal end, and a distal end, the distal end being operatively connected to the proximal end of the compressor/distractor mechanism; and a control mechanism operatively connected to the proximal end of the flexible connection portion, the control mechanism being configured to manipulate the flexible connection portion, thereby controlling the compressor/distractor mechanism to one of compress and distract the adjacent vertebrae at the spinal surgical site; wherein the flexible connection portion is configured to selectively locate the control mechanism at one of the patient's posterior side, anterior side, and lateral side while the compressor/distractor mechanism is located at the spinal surgical site being at another of the patient's posterior side, anterior side, and lateral side; characterized in that, the control mechanism comprises a hinged lever configured, upon compression thereof, to add increased pressure to the flexible connection portion and to move an inner cable relative to an outer cable of the flexible connection portion so as to pull together the first elongated arm and the second elongated arm, thereby compressing the compressor/distractor mechanism, and compressing the adjacent vertebrae; and the hinged lever of the control mechanism is further configured, upon expansion thereof, to reduce the pressure on the flexible connection portion and to move the inner cable relative to the outer cable, thereby increasing the length of the flexible connection portion so as to allow the first elongated arm and the second elongated arm to move apart, thereby distracting the compressor/distractor mechanism, and distracting the adjacent vertebrae. a compressor/distractor mechanism including a first elongated arm having a proximal end and a distal end and a second elongated arm having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal ends (30, 36) being configured to be attached to one of spinal anatomy and vertebral screws located on adjacent vertebrae at the spinal surgical site; a flexible connection portion having a length, a proximal end, and a distal end, the distal end being operatively connected to the proximal end of the compressor/distractor mechanism; and a control mechanism operatively connected to the proximal end of the flexible connection portion, the control mechanism being configured to manipulate the flexible connection portion, thereby controlling the compressor/distractor mechanism to one of compress and distract the adjacent vertebrae at the spinal surgical site; wherein the flexible connection portion is configured to selectively locate the control mechanism at one of the patient's posterior side, anterior side, and lateral side while the compressor/distractor mechanism is located at the spinal surgical site being at another of the patient's posterior side, anterior side, and lateral side; characterized in that, the control mechanism comprises a hinged lever configured, upon compression thereof, to add increased pressure to the flexible connection portion and to move an inner cable relative to an outer cable of the flexible connection portion so as to pull together the first elongated arm and the second elongated arm, thereby compressing the compressor/distractor mechanism, and compressing the adjacent vertebrae; and the hinged lever of the control mechanism is further configured, upon expansion thereof, to reduce the pressure on the flexible connection portion and to move the inner cable relative to the outer cable, thereby increasing the length of the flexible connection portion so as to allow the first elongated arm and the second elongated arm to move apart, thereby distracting the compressor/distractor mechanism, and distracting the adjacent vertebrae.