Abstract: An instrument and a method for gripping an orthopaedic fixation pin during a surgical procedure and extracting the pin from bone in which the pin is embedded. The pin has an embedded portion extending into the bone along a longitudinal axis, and a projecting portion projecting longitudinally from the bone adjacent a bearing surface associated with the bone. The instrument and the method enable gripping of the projecting portion of the pin between gripping elements which are moved laterally relative to one another to grip the projecting portion of the pin and then are moved longitudinally by urging a plunger against the bearing surface to pull the pin along a linear path essentially parallel to the longitudinal axis so as to withdraw the embedded portion of the pin from the bone along a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis.