Spinal implants and methods with extended multi-axial anchor assemblies

A spinal plating system, comprising:

• an elongate plate member including at least one opening extending therethrough between an upper surface and an opposite lower surface, said lower surface being positionable along the spinal column;
• an anchor assembly engageable to said elongate plate ember, said anchor assembly including:
• an anchor member including a head and a lower portion extending from the head for engagement with a bone member;
• a coupling member pivotally coupled to said head of said anchor, said coupling member including a lower receiver portion defining an interior receptacle for receiving said head and a post extending from said lower receiver portion away from said head along a longitudinal axis, said post including a locking member mounting portion adjacent said lower receiver portion configured to engage a locking member and a removable extension portion extending proximally from said mounting portion, wherein said post includes a break-off region between said locking member mounting portion and said removable extension portion, said break-off region interrupting an external thread profile that extends around said locking member mounting portion and said removable extension portion, said lower receiver portion defining at least one sidewall opening in communication with an exterior of said coupling member;
• and
• a crown positioned in said interior receptacle of said coupling member about said head of said anchor member, said crown including a seating portion extending therefrom, said seating portion extending through said at least one sidewall opening for direct contact with said plate member when said plate member is positioned around said post of said coupling member so that the locking member secures said plate member against said seating portion.