A surgical system comprising: a first template comprising a first shaft extending along a first axis between a first proximal end and a first distal end, the first template comprising a first engagement portion configured for insertion between vertebrae of a patient, the first engagement portion comprising a first rod extending from the first distal end at an acute angle (α) relative to the first axis and a first head coupled to the first rod, the first head comprising a first cylindrical wall having a first diameter; and a second template comprising a second shaft extending along a second axis between a second proximal end and a second distal end, the second template comprising a second engagement portion configured for insertion between the vertebrae, the second engagement portion comprising a second rod extending from the second distal end at an acute angle (β) relative to the second axis and a second head coupled to the second rod, the second head comprising a second cylindrical wall having a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is different than the second diameter, characterized in that the surgical system further comprises a third template comprising a third shaft extending along a third axis between a third proximal end and a third distal end, the third template comprising a third engagement portion configured for insertion between the vertebrae, the third engagement portion comprising a third rod extending from the third distal end such that the third rod is parallel to the third axis and a third head coupled to the third rod, the third head comprising a rectangular geometry. a first template comprising a first shaft extending along a first axis between a first proximal end and a first distal end, the first template comprising a first engagement portion configured for insertion between vertebrae of a patient, the first engagement portion comprising a first rod extending from the first distal end at an acute angle (α) relative to the first axis and a first head coupled to the first rod, the first head comprising a first cylindrical wall having a first diameter; and a second template comprising a second shaft extending along a second axis between a second proximal end and a second distal end, the second template comprising a second engagement portion configured for insertion between the vertebrae, the second engagement portion comprising a second rod extending from the second distal end at an acute angle (β) relative to the second axis and a second head coupled to the second rod, the second head comprising a second cylindrical wall having a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is different than the second diameter, characterized in that the surgical system further comprises a third template comprising a third shaft extending along a third axis between a third proximal end and a third distal end, the third template comprising a third engagement portion configured for insertion between the vertebrae, the third engagement portion comprising a third rod extending from the third distal end such that the third rod is parallel to the third axis and a third head coupled to the third rod, the third head comprising a rectangular geometry.