Locking plates having guided locking screws and methods therefor

A locking plate system comprising:

• a locking plate having a top surface, a bottom surface, a screw hole extending through said locking plate having an inner diameter and internal threads, and a circular slot formed in said top surface of said locking plate adjacent said screw hole, wherein said circular slot is concentric with said screw hole;
• a screw guide having a main body including an upper end and a lower end, and an attachment flange projecting from said lower end of said main body for insertion into said circular slot of said locking plate for securing said screw guide to said locking plate, wherein said screw guide includes a central opening that extends between said upper and lower ends of said main body, said central opening having an inner diameter that matches the inner diameter of said screw hole;
• and
• a locking screw having external threads extending along the length thereof, said external threads having an outer diameter that matches the inner diameter of said central opening of said screw guide and the inner diameter of said screw hole in said locking plate, wherein said locking screw is insertable into said central opening of said screw guide for being directed into said screw hole, wherein said locking screw has a screw head and an elongated shaft, wherein the length of said external threads projecting from said screw head are shorter than the length of said external threads projecting from said elongated shaft, and wherein said external threads on said screw head and said external threads on said elongated shaft have the same outer diameter, wherein said circular slot has an outer diameter that extends around said screw hole and said attachment flange comprises a circular ring having an outer diameter that matches the outer diameter of said circular slot, and wherein the inner diameter of said central opening of said screw guide is smaller than the inner diameter of said attachment flange.