1. A method for displaying a representation of a surgical instrument using a surgical instrument navigation system, comprising: providing image data representative of a patient; rendering a first three-dimensional representation of the surgical instrument as it would visually appear from a first perspective; displaying the rendering of the surgical instrument superimposed onto the image data of the patient; rendering a second three-dimensional representation of the surgical instrument as it would visually appear from a second perspective; and displaying the rendering of the surgical instrument as it would visually appear from at least one of said first perspective or said second perspective that is selectable by an operator of the surgical instrument navigation system.