An apparatus for holding a bone plate comprising: a tubular member comprising: a cylindrical body having a front end and a rear end; a tip opening in said front end; a rear opening in said rear end; a passageway in said body connecting said tip opening and said rear opening; at least two longitudinal slots disposed around a circumference of said front end of said tubular member and extending axially rearward from said front end; a flange disposed around said rear opening; an inner sleeve being slideably disposed inside said passageway of said tubular member, said inner sleeve comprising: a front end; a back end; and a flange disposed around said back end; characterized in that the inner sleeve further comprises: at least two substantially longitudinal fingers extending from said front end of said inner sleeve, said fingers being aligned with said longitudinal slots in said front end of said tubular member; whereby said fingers extend axially forward and radially outward as said inner sleeve slides forward in said tubular member, and wherein said fingers retract axially rearward and radially inward as said inner sleeve slides backward in said tubular member; and tips being formed at a distal end of said fingers and bent radially inward. a tubular member comprising: a cylindrical body having a front end and a rear end; a tip opening in said front end; a rear opening in said rear end; a passageway in said body connecting said tip opening and said rear opening; at least two longitudinal slots disposed around a circumference of said front end of said tubular member and extending axially rearward from said front end; a flange disposed around said rear opening; a cylindrical body having a front end and a rear end; a tip opening in said front end; a rear opening in said rear end; a passageway in said body connecting said tip opening and said rear opening; at least two longitudinal slots disposed around a circumference of said front end of said tubular member and extending axially rearward from said front end; a flange disposed around said rear opening; an inner sleeve being slideably disposed inside said passageway of said tubular member, said inner sleeve comprising: a front end; a back end; and a flange disposed around said back end; a front end; a back end; and a flange disposed around said back end; characterized in that the inner sleeve further comprises: at least two substantially longitudinal fingers extending from said front end of said inner sleeve, said fingers being aligned with said longitudinal slots in said front end of said tubular member; whereby said fingers extend axially forward and radially outward as said inner sleeve slides forward in said tubular member, and wherein said fingers retract axially rearward and radially inward as said inner sleeve slides backward in said tubular member; and tips being formed at a distal end of said fingers and bent radially inward. at least two substantially longitudinal fingers extending from said front end of said inner sleeve, said fingers being aligned with said longitudinal slots in said front end of said tubular member; whereby said fingers extend axially forward and radially outward as said inner sleeve slides forward in said tubular member, and wherein said fingers retract axially rearward and radially inward as said inner sleeve slides backward in said tubular member; and tips being formed at a distal end of said fingers and bent radially inward.