A surgical system, comprising: a first surgical instrument including a surgical retractor which has a retractor arm and a projection that defines a first axis (X4; X7); a second surgical instrument including a retractor blade and an arm (36a; 36b) that defines a second axis (X6; X8) and includes a surface (290; 390) which includes longitudinal splines or spaced apart gear surfaces (392, 394); and a surgical adaptor (240; 340) configured to connect the first surgical instrument with the second surgical instrument, the surgical adaptor (240; 340) comprising: a first member including a collar (242; 342) which includes an extension (244; 344) having a passageway for disposal of the projection, radial splines (268; 368) engageable with the longitudinal splines or the spaced apart gear surfaces (392, 394), a surface (250; 350) that defines an opening (252; 352) configured for disposal of a handle (254; 354), and the handle (254; 354) including a knob (256; 356) and a rotatable shaft, the rotatable shaft having a threaded surface and defining a third axis (X5; X9); and a second member including a jaw (260; 360) which includes a surface (276; 376) that defines a lateral passageway (278; 378) configured for disposal of the arm (36a; 36b), wherein the threaded surface is disposed in a threaded engagement with jaw (260; 360) such that jaw (260; 360) is translatable relative to the rotatable shaft along the third axis (X5; X9), and wherein, when the surgical adaptor (240; 340) is attached to the projection of the first surgical instrument, when the arm (36a; 36b) of the second surgical instrument is disposed in the lateral passageway (278; 378) of the jaw (260; 360) and when the radial splines (268; 368) engage with the longitudinal splines or the spaced apart gear surfaces (392, 394), the first surgical instrument is disposed in a selected orientation relative to the second surgical instrument. a first surgical instrument including a surgical retractor which has a retractor arm and a projection that defines a first axis (X4; X7); a second surgical instrument including a retractor blade and an arm (36a; 36b) that defines a second axis (X6; X8) and includes a surface (290; 390) which includes longitudinal splines or spaced apart gear surfaces (392, 394); and a surgical adaptor (240; 340) configured to connect the first surgical instrument with the second surgical instrument, the surgical adaptor (240; 340) comprising: a first member including a collar (242; 342) which includes an extension (244; 344) having a passageway for disposal of the projection, radial splines (268; 368) engageable with the longitudinal splines or the spaced apart gear surfaces (392, 394), a surface (250; 350) that defines an opening (252; 352) configured for disposal of a handle (254; 354), and the handle (254; 354) including a knob (256; 356) and a rotatable shaft, the rotatable shaft having a threaded surface and defining a third axis (X5; X9); and a second member including a jaw (260; 360) which includes a surface (276; 376) that defines a lateral passageway (278; 378) configured for disposal of the arm (36a; 36b), a first member including a collar (242; 342) which includes an extension (244; 344) having a passageway for disposal of the projection, radial splines (268; 368) engageable with the longitudinal splines or the spaced apart gear surfaces (392, 394), a surface (250; 350) that defines an opening (252; 352) configured for disposal of a handle (254; 354), and the handle (254; 354) including a knob (256; 356) and a rotatable shaft, the rotatable shaft having a threaded surface and defining a third axis (X5; X9); and an extension (244; 344) having a passageway for disposal of the projection, radial splines (268; 368) engageable with the longitudinal splines or the spaced apart gear surfaces (392, 394), a surface (250; 350) that defines an opening (252; 352) configured for disposal of a handle (254; 354), and the handle (254; 354) including a knob (256; 356) and a rotatable shaft, the rotatable shaft having a threaded surface and defining a third axis (X5; X9); and a second member including a jaw (260; 360) which includes a surface (276; 376) that defines a lateral passageway (278; 378) configured for disposal of the arm (36a; 36b), wherein the threaded surface is disposed in a threaded engagement with jaw (260; 360) such that jaw (260; 360) is translatable relative to the rotatable shaft along the third axis (X5; X9), and wherein, when the surgical adaptor (240; 340) is attached to the projection of the first surgical instrument, when the arm (36a; 36b) of the second surgical instrument is disposed in the lateral passageway (278; 378) of the jaw (260; 360) and when the radial splines (268; 368) engage with the longitudinal splines or the spaced apart gear surfaces (392, 394), the first surgical instrument is disposed in a selected orientation relative to the second surgical instrument.