A system (10) for use in a method of adjusting a distance between a first surgical rod (12) and a second surgical rod (14) wherein the method includes providing a surgical rod connector (16) having a housing (20) with first and second ends (22, 24) and a longitudinal passage (30) extending between the first end and the second end. The method also includes positioning the first surgical rod in the first end and positioning the second surgical rod in the second end. The method further includes mounting an anchor mechanism (18) to the surgical rod connector and applying a force on the anchor mechanism and a corresponding force on one of the first and second surgical rods to distract the first and second surgical rods relative to one another.
