Method for installation of dynamic, single-lock anterior cervical plate system having non-detachably fastened and moveable segments

A method comprising:

• providing a plate of appropriate length adapted to overlap at least an anterior portion of two adjacent vertebral bodies in the cervical human spine, said plate having at least a first plate segment adapted to be attached to one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused and a second plate segment adapted to be attached to another one of the adjacent vertebral bodies to be fused, the first and second plate segments being in moveable relationship to one another along a longitudinal axis of the plate, the first and second plate segments being non-detachably fastened together by a fastener, the fastener being non-detachably attached to at least one of the first and second plate segments so as to prevent complete uncoupling of the first and second plate segments from one another, the fastener not being detachable from the at least one of the first and second plate segments by rotation of the fastener;
• inserting at least a first bone screw through the first plate segment of the plate and into one of the adjacent vertebral bodies adjacent the disc space to be fused;
• inserting at least a second bone screw through the second plate segment and into the other of the adjacent vertebral bodies adjacent the disc space to be fused;
• locking at least one of the bone screws with at least one bone screw lock adapted to lock to the plate only a single bone screw;
• and
• permitting movement of the first and second plate segments attached to the adjacent vertebral bodies relative to one another.