Cervical plate system and method

A cervical plate system comprising:

• a fixation plate having:
• an aperture extending from a first surface to a second surface opposed to the first surface thereof and dimensioned for admitting at least a portion of a shank of a bone fixation element therethrough, and for preventing the head from passing therethrough;
• and a slot extending into the second surface;
• and a locking plate having a first surface and a second surface opposed to the first surface, the locking plate adapted for sliding movement along longitudinal axis of the fixation plate relative to the second surface, the locking plate first surface adjacent the fixation plate second surface, the locking plate comprising a lock rotatably affixed to the locking plate second surface and engageable with the bone fixation element, the lock movable between a first position adapted for permitting relative axial movement of the bone fixation element and a second position adapted for substantially preventing axial movement of the bone fixation element, the locking plate further having a protrusion extending from the first surface and dimensioned for registering with the fixation plate slot during sliding of the locking plate between the first and the second position;
• the lock has a protrusion extending toward the second surface, and the fixation plate further has a hole extending therethrough from the first surface to the second surface, the hole dimensioned for admitting at least a portion of the lock protrusion thereinto and for permitting relative rotation therebetween.