Method and apparatus for performing spinal fusion surgery

1. A posterior spinal retractor system for maintaining an access corridor to a site along the posterior spinal column on which a surgical procedure is performed, the surgical procedure including the use of a first bone anchor having a first bone anchor longitudinal axis and second bone anchor having a second bone anchor longitudinal axis, the first bone anchor and second bone anchor being anchorable into a first pedicle of a first vertebra and a second pedicle of a second vertebra, respectively, comprising:

a primary retractor having a first arm, a second arm, a first retractor blade attachable to the first arm and having a first retractor blade longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end, and a second retractor blade attachable to the second arm and having a second retractor blade longitudinal axis, a distal end and a proximal end, the first arm and the second arm being movable relative to each other in a first direction, wherein the distal end of the first retractor blade is temporarily anchorable in position relative to the first pedicle via coupled engagement with the first bone anchor, the coupled engagement permitting angular adjustability of the distal end relative to the first bone anchor such that the first retractor blade longitudinal axis is orientable oblique to the first bone anchor longitudinal axis and the proximal end of the first retractor blade is pivotable relative to the first arm, and wherein the distal end of the second retractor blade is temporarily anchorable in position relative to the second pedicle via coupled engagement with the second bone anchor, the coupled engagement permitting angular adjustability of the distal end relative to the second bone anchor such that the second retractor blade longitudinal axis is orientable oblique to the second bone anchor longitudinal axis, and the proximal end of the second retractor blade is pivotable relative to the second arm; and

a secondary retractor having:

a base arm releasably attachable to the primary retractor, the base arm comprising a distal base arm portion, a pivot link, a first base arm pivot positioned between and pivotably connecting the distal base arm portion and the pivot link, and a second base arm pivot on an opposing end of the pivot link from the first base arm pivot;

a rack member extending orthogonally from the distal base arm portion of the base arm;

a supplemental arm extending from the rack member with a supplemental arm longitudinal axis that is parallel to the first direction, the supplemental arm comprising a rack connector secured to the rack member, a pivot arm, and a supplemental arm pivot between and pivotably connecting the rack connector and pivot arm, wherein the supplemental arm is operable to be advanced toward and retracted from the base arm in a direction orthogonal to the first direction; and

a supplemental blade attachable to the supplemental arm.

2. The retractor system of claim 1 , wherein an angle of the access corridor created is adjustable by moving a proximal end of the first retractor blade and a proximal end of the second retractor blade in the same direction while a distal end of the first retractor blade remains in coupled engagement with the first bone anchor and a distal end of the second retractor blade remains in coupled engagement with the second bone anchor.

3. The retractor system of claim 1 , wherein the supplemental retractor blade is pivotable relative to the supplemental arm in the first direction.

4. The retractor system of claim 1 , wherein the coupled engagement between the first retractor blade and the first bone anchor occurs through a first hoop member that extends from a distal end portion of the first retractor blade in a direction inward toward the access corridor maintained by the blades of the retractor, and wherein the coupled engagement between the second retractor blade and the second bone anchor occurs through a second hoop member that extends inward from a distal end portion of the second retractor blade.

5. The retractor system of claim 4 , wherein the first hoop member is part of a first hoop shim slideably engaged to an interior surface of said first retractor blade and the second hoop member is part of a second hoop shim slideably engaged to an interior surface of said second retractor blade.

6. The retractor system of claim 1 , wherein the angular adjustability of the distal end of the first retractor blade relative to the first bone anchor encompasses 360 degrees.

7. The retractor system of claim 6 , wherein the angular adjustability of the distal end of the second retractor blade relative to the second bone anchor encompasses 360 degrees.

8. The retractor system of claim 7 , wherein the first hoop member engages a partially spherical head of the first bone anchor and the second hoop member engages a partially spherical head of the second bone anchor.

9. The retractor system of claim 1 , wherein the retractor further includes a third arm and a third retractor blade attachable to the third arm.

10. The retractor system of claim 9 , wherein the supplemental blade is positioned opposite the third blade and the third arm is operable to move the third blade in a direction orthogonal to the first direction.

11. The retractor system of claim 10 , wherein the supplemental retractor includes a coupler that couples directly to a mating feature on the third blade.