Flexible plate fixation of bone fractures

A method comprising:

• approximately aligning fractured bone members;
• positioning a bone plate at least partially across the fractured bone members, the bone plate having an upper surface, a bone-facing surface, and one or more openings extending through the bone plate from the upper surface to the bone-facing surface, the one or more openings at least partially surrounding a periphery of one or more receiving holes to enable relative displacement between the receiving holes within the bone plate, wherein the one or more openings are at least partially filled with an elastomer to support elastic suspension of the receiving holes in the bone plate, wherein the elastomer is disposed within the one or more openings such that the elastomer at least partially surrounds the periphery of the one or more receiving holes;
• and
• inserting one or more fixation elements through the one or more receiving holes to secure the bone plate to the fractured bone members.