an anchorless non - invasive force dissipation device for orthopedic instrumentation including a base having a patient contacting surface , the patient contacting surface including a surface area adapted for external placement on a patient &# 39 ; s body , and an instrument alignment mechanism operably connected to and selectively positionable relative to the base , the instrument alignment mechanism adapted to interface with at least one orthopedic instrument , such that forces applied by the orthopedic instrument are dissipated across the surface area of the base with the device being unanchored externally of the patient .