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.
