Surgical access system

1. A laminoplasty system comprising:

a laminoplasty plate for securing a separated lamina portion of a desired cervical vertebra in a relief position;

a lamina setting tool for raising the separated lamina portion to the relief position; and

a laminoplasty portal, comprising:

a substantially enclosed conduit defining an interior channel; and

a substantially circumferential sidewall having a first sidewall section having a proximal end and a distal end, and two longitudinal side edge areas, and an opposed second sidewall section having a proximal end and a distal end, and two longitudinal side edge areas, wherein portions of the two longitudinal side edge areas of the first sidewall section connect in a longitudinally sliding relation with portions of the two longitudinal side edge areas of the second sidewall section such that the first sidewall section is configured to slide longitudinally with respect to the second sidewall section to move from a first position where the distal ends of the first and second sidewall sections are substantially coextensive, to a second position, where the distal end of the first sidewall section is raised with respect to the distal end of the second sidewall section when the lamina setting tool raises the separated lamina portion to the relief position;

wherein one of the first and second sidewall sections comprises at least one longitudinal slot and the other of the first and second sidewall sections comprises a complementary longitudinal ridge that fits within and slides with respect to a respective one of the at least one longitudinal slot, and wherein the complementary longitudinal ridge is longitudinally shorter than the respective one of the at least one longitudinal slot, such that the complementary longitudinal ridge itself acts as a stop when the first sidewall section has been slid longitudinally a predetermined distance with respect to the second sidewall section.

2. The laminoplasty system of claim 1 , wherein the distal end of the first sidewall section is configured to abut the separated lamina portion, and wherein the distal end of the second sidewall section is configured to abut a lateral mass portion.

3. The laminoplasty system of claim 1 , wherein a proximal end of the laminoplasty portal is circumferentially integral and integral with the proximal end of the first sidewall section.

4. The laminoplasty system of claim 1 , wherein the distal ends of the first and second sidewall sections are shaped to substantially conform to an area substantially near the separated lamina portion and a lateral mass portion.

5. The laminoplasty system of claim 4 , wherein the distal end of the first sidewall section is angled to substantially mate with the separated lamina portion.