A device for stabilizing bones of a patient, comprising: - a first plate portion including at least one aperture for receiving a first locking element to connect said first plate portion to the body tissue of the patient; - a projection extending from said first plate portion; - a second plate portion including at least one aperture for receiving a second locking element to connect said second plate portion to the body tissue of the patient; - a chamber formed in said second plate portion sized and dimensioned to slidingly receive said projection, thereby substantially limiting movement of said first plate portion relative to said second plate portion to a motion in a first direction and in an opposite second direction when said projection is received within said chamber; - a limiter resiliently extending from said projection; - wherein said limiter is bendable - a catch (646, 634, 634A) formed in said chamber, relative to said limiter, operative to form an engagement with said limiter, said catch being further shaped to admit passage of said limiter past said engagement when said first and second plate portions are moved in said first direction together, said catch (646, 634, 634A) further operative to prevent passage of said limiter past the engagement of said catch (646, 634, 634A) and said limiter when said first and second plate portions are moved in said second direction characterized in that - said projection includes a spring relief formed therein arranged for receiving the limiter, - wherein the spring relief has notched steps formed at opposite ends of said spring relief and a relief floor positioned at a depth greater within said spring relief than said notched steps thereby allowing the limiter to rest upon the notched steps while the limiter is engaged with the notched steps and permit the limiter to resiliently bend downwards towards the relief floor during use. - a first plate portion including at least one aperture for receiving a first locking element to connect said first plate portion to the body tissue of the patient; - a projection extending from said first plate portion; - a second plate portion including at least one aperture for receiving a second locking element to connect said second plate portion to the body tissue of the patient; - a chamber formed in said second plate portion sized and dimensioned to slidingly receive said projection, thereby substantially limiting movement of said first plate portion relative to said second plate portion to a motion in a first direction and in an opposite second direction when said projection is received within said chamber; - a limiter resiliently extending from said projection; - wherein said limiter is bendable - a catch (646, 634, 634A) formed in said chamber, relative to said limiter, operative to form an engagement with said limiter, said catch being further shaped to admit passage of said limiter past said engagement when said first and second plate portions are moved in said first direction together, said catch (646, 634, 634A) further operative to prevent passage of said limiter past the engagement of said catch (646, 634, 634A) and said limiter when said first and second plate portions are moved in said second direction characterized in that - said projection includes a spring relief formed therein arranged for receiving the limiter, - wherein the spring relief has notched steps formed at opposite ends of said spring relief and a relief floor positioned at a depth greater within said spring relief than said notched steps thereby allowing the limiter to rest upon the notched steps while the limiter is engaged with the notched steps and permit the limiter to resiliently bend downwards towards the relief floor during use. - said projection includes a spring relief formed therein arranged for receiving the limiter, - wherein the spring relief has notched steps formed at opposite ends of said spring relief and a relief floor positioned at a depth greater within said spring relief than said notched steps thereby allowing the limiter to rest upon the notched steps while the limiter is engaged with the notched steps and permit the limiter to resiliently bend downwards towards the relief floor during use. - wherein the spring relief has notched steps formed at opposite ends of said spring relief and a relief floor positioned at a depth greater within said spring relief than said notched steps thereby allowing the limiter to rest upon the notched steps while the limiter is engaged with the notched steps and permit the limiter to resiliently bend downwards towards the relief floor during use.