Minimally invasive retractor and methods of use

A method of performing surgery comprising:

• percutaneously inserting a guidewire into a boney structure;
• inserting a cannulated bone screw and an associated retractor over the guidewire, the retractor being movable relative to the bone screw when the retractor is coupled to the bone screw, the retractor transitionable to an expanded position;
• implanting the bone screw into the boney structure;
• transitioning the retractor to the expanded position to retract tissue adjacent the retractor to facilitate access to a surgical site;
• performing a surgical procedure at the surgical site through the retractor;
• and
• removing the retractor from the bone screw.

A method for performing surgery comprising:

• providing at least two retractor assemblies, each retractor assembly including at least one flexible elongate member flexibly coupled to a coupling region of the retractor assembly and a screw extending through an opening at a distal end of the coupling region, each retractor assembly rotatable relative to the bone screw when the retractor assembly is coupled to the bone screw;
• securing a first screw to a portion of a first vertebral body;
• retracting tissue using the at least one elongate member of a first retractor assembly;
• securing a second screw to a portion of a second vertebral body;
• retracting tissue using the at least one elongate member of a second retractor assembly;
• inserting a rod between the first and second screws;
• securing the rod to the first and second screws;
• and
• removing the first and second retractors.