Bone plate instrument and method

A method for drilling holes in bone for receiving bone screws comprising:

• placing a bone plate having at least two bone screw receiving holes therethrough on a bone;
• placing a drill guide block on the bone plate, the drill guide block having at least two drill guide bores placed in alignment with the bone screw receiving holes of the bone plate;
• inserting a first locking element into a first of the drill guide bores of the guide block and into engagement with a corresponding first bone screw receiving hole in the bone plate;
• inserting a second locking element mounted on the drill guide block into engagement with a hole in the bone plate;
• and
• drilling a hole in the bone using a second drill guide bore on the drill guide block and through a second bone screw receiving hole on the bone plate.

An instrument system for forming holes in a bone for attaching a bone plate having a plurality of holes therethrough for receiving bone screws, comprising:

• a drill guide block having bores corresponding to holes in the bone plate;
• a first locking element for extending through a first bore in the drill guide block and lockingly engaging the bone plate;
• a second locking element mounted in the drill guide block for engaging a hole in the bone plate;
• and
• a drill guide mountable in a second bore of the drill guide block for guiding a drill bit into the bone.