A guide wire placement apparatus, comprising: a guide plate including: a first guide plate surface configured to couple with an anatomical feature of a patient; a second guide plate surface opposite the first guide plate surface, a guide plate socket extending into the first guide plate surface; and a guide wire bore extending from the socket to the second guide plate surface to allow a guide wire to translate through the guide plate; an axis guide comprising: a coupling member configured to lock into the socket in multiple positions wherein the coupling member has an exterior surface and is quasi-spherical; and a second guide wire bore passing through the axis guide, wherein the second guide wire bore is configured to allow the guide wire to translate through the second guide wire bore in one position; and wherein the positionable mating of the coupling member with the guide plate socket aligns the first guide wire bore with the second guide wire bore; characterized in that the exterior surface of the coupling member includes facets configured to mate with the guide plate socket for positionable mating of the coupling member relative to the guide plate socket. a guide plate including: a first guide plate surface configured to couple with an anatomical feature of a patient; a second guide plate surface opposite the first guide plate surface, a guide plate socket extending into the first guide plate surface; and a guide wire bore extending from the socket to the second guide plate surface to allow a guide wire to translate through the guide plate; a first guide plate surface configured to couple with an anatomical feature of a patient; a second guide plate surface opposite the first guide plate surface, a guide plate socket extending into the first guide plate surface; and a guide wire bore extending from the socket to the second guide plate surface to allow a guide wire to translate through the guide plate; an axis guide comprising: a coupling member configured to lock into the socket in multiple positions wherein the coupling member has an exterior surface and is quasi-spherical; and a second guide wire bore passing through the axis guide, wherein the second guide wire bore is configured to allow the guide wire to translate through the second guide wire bore in one position; and wherein the positionable mating of the coupling member with the guide plate socket aligns the first guide wire bore with the second guide wire bore; characterized in that the exterior surface of the coupling member includes facets configured to mate with the guide plate socket for positionable mating of the coupling member relative to the guide plate socket. a coupling member configured to lock into the socket in multiple positions wherein the coupling member has an exterior surface and is quasi-spherical; and a second guide wire bore passing through the axis guide, wherein the second guide wire bore is configured to allow the guide wire to translate through the second guide wire bore in one position; and wherein the positionable mating of the coupling member with the guide plate socket aligns the first guide wire bore with the second guide wire bore; characterized in that the exterior surface of the coupling member includes facets configured to mate with the guide plate socket for positionable mating of the coupling member relative to the guide plate socket.