A
system and minimally invasive method for the placement of pedicle screws without the use of a trocar needle and / or guidewires. The
system and method comprises at least one pedicle finder and at least one
dilator. The pedicle finder preferably comprises an
extender that is removably attached to a pedicle anchor. Attached to a pedicle anchor is a flexible tether. The
extender preferably includes a passage through which the flexible tether extends. The
dilator comprises a tubular body with two ends, where a first end comprises a means for securing the
dilator into bony process of
vertebra and a second end comprises at least two arm attachments. The tubular body Of the dilator is configured to slide easily over an
extender and secure the first end into bony
vertebra to prevent the dilator from dislodging. The arm attachment of the second end of the dilator can be interconnected with another arm attachment via a linking element and / or the dilator can be secured to a stable object such as a table via a securing element.