Devices for retracting tissue during a minimally-invasive,posterior spinal fusion procedure include a bladepositionable along a passageway device connected to aconnecting element implanted in a vertebra of the spine, suchthat the blade covers at least a portion of a longitudinalopening of the passageway device. The blade may be coupled tothe passageway device by receiving the passageway device witha receiving portion. Systems for displacing the vertebrae ofthe spine include first and second extenders, the distal endsof each of which are configured to engage the connectingelements. Each extender may include a shaft configured to besecurely engaged within a cage of the respective connectingelement. The devices and systems of the present invention maybe used in connection with an interbody fusion techniqueperformed through an opening extending between the passagewaydevices, and an intermediate retractor blade may provideadditional tissue retraction.
