Spinal fixation systems and methods

An occipital fixation system, comprising:

• an occipital plate assembly comprising:
• a plate body sized for positioning on a patient's occipital bone, the plate body comprising at least one screw receiving hole configured to receive a bone screw therethrough;
• and
• a pair of rod receiving assemblies coupled to the plate body each comprising a housing configured to receive an elongated rod, wherein each housing is configured to translate in a medial-lateral direction, angulate in a medial-lateral direction, and angulate in a cranial-caudal direction relative to the plate body;
• a plurality of screw assemblies configured to be inserted into adjacent vertebrae of the patient's cervical spine, each of the plurality of screw assemblies comprising:
• a screw having a threaded shaft and an enlarged head at a proximal end;
• and
• a housing having an upper portion with an upper opening and a lower portion with a lower opening extending along a first axis of the housing, wherein the enlarged head of the screw is disposed within the housing and the shaft extends out of the housing through the lower opening, the housing having a third opening and a fourth opening along a second axis transverse to the first axis adapted to receive an elongated rod, wherein the screw is configured to translate, pivot, and rotate relative to the housing;
• and
• a pair of rods sized to be received within the rod receiving assemblies of the occipital plate assembly and the housings of the screw assemblies to connect the occipital plate assembly when positioned on the patient's occipital bone to the screw assemblies when inserted into adjacent vertebrae of the patient's cervical spine.