A system for inserting an implant into a bone, comprising: a base defining an open central area sized to receive a portion of a patient's anatomy including a target bone into which an implant is to be inserted; a first arm coupled to the base and extending away therefrom in a first direction, a distal end of the first arm being configured to removably mount a proximal end of an implant thereto so that the base is in a desired orientation relative to the implant extending along a desired axis in a second direction opposite the first direction passing through the central area of the base; a second arm separated laterally from the axis so that the second arm extends away from the base substantially parallel to the axis in alignment with a target structure of an implant coupled to the first arm, the second arm including a first aiming hole through which the target structure is to be accessed, the first aiming hole including a first spring element extending thereinto; and a first protection sleeve sized for insertion through the first aiming hole through an intervening portion of soft tissue located adjacent to the target structure of an implant coupled to the first arm, wherein one of the first protection sleeve and the first aiming hole is configured so that the first spring element engages the first protection sleeve to frictionally lock the first protection sleeve in position within the first aiming hole when the first protection sleeve is rotated to a first orientation relative to the first aiming hole and, when rotated from the first orientation to a second orientation, the first spring element disengages the first protection sleeve so that the first protection sleeve is free to move within the first aiming hole, and wherein the first protection sleeve includes a first reduced diameter portion which, when rotated to face the first spring element, places the first protection sleeve in the second orientation relative to the first aiming hole, and rotation of the first protection sleeve so that a second increased diameter portion thereof engages the first spring element defining the first orientation so that the first spring element locks the increased diameter portion of the first protection sleeve within the first aiming hole. a base defining an open central area sized to receive a portion of a patient's anatomy including a target bone into which an implant is to be inserted; a first arm coupled to the base and extending away therefrom in a first direction, a distal end of the first arm being configured to removably mount a proximal end of an implant thereto so that the base is in a desired orientation relative to the implant extending along a desired axis in a second direction opposite the first direction passing through the central area of the base; a second arm separated laterally from the axis so that the second arm extends away from the base substantially parallel to the axis in alignment with a target structure of an implant coupled to the first arm, the second arm including a first aiming hole through which the target structure is to be accessed, the first aiming hole including a first spring element extending thereinto; and a first protection sleeve sized for insertion through the first aiming hole through an intervening portion of soft tissue located adjacent to the target structure of an implant coupled to the first arm, wherein one of the first protection sleeve and the first aiming hole is configured so that the first spring element engages the first protection sleeve to frictionally lock the first protection sleeve in position within the first aiming hole when the first protection sleeve is rotated to a first orientation relative to the first aiming hole and, when rotated from the first orientation to a second orientation, the first spring element disengages the first protection sleeve so that the first protection sleeve is free to move within the first aiming hole, and wherein the first protection sleeve includes a first reduced diameter portion which, when rotated to face the first spring element, places the first protection sleeve in the second orientation relative to the first aiming hole, and rotation of the first protection sleeve so that a second increased diameter portion thereof engages the first spring element defining the first orientation so that the first spring element locks the increased diameter portion of the first protection sleeve within the first aiming hole.