Surgical access system and related methods

The method of claim 1, wherein rotating the roller member in a second rotational direction linearly translates the first blade of the plurality of blades toward the other blades of the plurality of blades.

The method of claim 1, wherein linear translation of the first blade is performed independent of moving the other blades of the plurality of blades.

The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the retractor assembly at the surgical target site to create the operative corridor comprises:

• pivoting one or both of a second blade of the plurality of blades and a third blade of the plurality of blades away from a central axis along which the retractor assembly is introduced to the surgical target site.

The method of claim 4, wherein the first blade is a posterior blade, the second blade is a cephalad blade, and the third blade is a caudal blade.

The method of claim 1, further comprising:

• creating a distraction corridor to the surgical target site with a distraction assembly prior to introducing the retractor assembly to the surgical target site.

The method of claim 6, wherein creating the distraction corridor comprises:

• inserting a K-wire to the surgical target site;
• and
• sliding a dilator over the K-wire to the surgical target site.

The method of claim 7, wherein the K-wire includes a stimulation electrode at a distal tip of the K-wire and the method further comprises:

• emitting an electrical stimulation signal from the stimulation electrode;
• and
• determining if the electrical stimulation signal causes muscles associates with neural structures around the surgical target site to innervate.

The method of claim 6, wherein introducing the retractor assembly to the surgical target site includes advancing the plurality of blades through the distraction corridor to the surgical target site.

The method of claim 1, further comprising:

• emitting an electrical stimulation signal proximate the surgical target site;
• and
• determining if the electrical stimulation signal causes muscles associates with neural structures around the surgical target site to innervate.

The method of claim 11, further comprising:

• creating a distraction corridor using a distraction assembly, and
• wherein advancing the retractor assembly to the surgical target site includes advancing the retractor assembly through the distraction corridor and over the distraction assembly.

The method of claim 12, further comprising:

• removing the distraction assembly prior to adjusting one or both of the second blade and the third blade radially outward from the first blade to the first position.

The method of claim 11, further comprising:

• moving the first blade linearly relative to the second blade and the third blade to enlarge the operative corridor.

The method of claim 14, wherein moving the first blade linearly further comprises:

• rotating a roller member of the retractor assembly in a first rotational direction to linearly translate the first blade away from the second blade and the third blade.

The method of claim 11, wherein rotating one or both of the second blade and the third blade to the second position comprises independently rotating one or both of the second blade and the third blade relative to the other.

The method of claim 17, wherein moving the first blade linearly away from the second blade and the third blade further comprises:

• rotating a roller member of the retractor assembly in a first rotational direction to linearly translate the first blade away from the second blade and the third blade.

The method of claim 17, further comprising:

• emitting an electrical stimulation signal proximate the surgical target site;
• and
• determining if the electrical stimulation signal causes muscles associates with neural structures around the surgical target site to innervate.

The method of claim 19, wherein the electrical stimulation is emitted from an electrode of the retractor assembly as the retractor assembly is advanced to the surgical target site.