A system for performing a laminoplasty for treating cervical stenosis in a patient, the system comprising: a laminoplasty plate having a medial portion and comprising: a proximal end portion having a bottom surface defined in a first plane; and a distal end portion having a bottom surface defined in a second plane, wherein, at the medial portion, the first plane and second plane are spaced from each other; and a means for fastening the distal end portion of the laminoplasty plate to a lateral mass portion of a desired cervical vertebra of the patient; a lamina setting tool comprising: a means for fastening the proximal end portion of the laminoplasty plate to the lamina portion in the relief position; characterized by the lamina setting tool further comprising: an elongate guide with a longitudinal axis, and a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end is configured to engage portions of the laminoplasty plate and for releasably engaging the distal end portion of the laminoplasty plate, and wherein the proximal end is at least partially threaded; a housing defining a longitudinal channel and an internal chamber; a means for controllably raising a lamina portion separated from the lateral mass portion to a relief position, wherein the means comprises a drive nut disposed in the internal chamber having internal threads configured for coaxial alignment with the proximal end of the elongate guide, wherein the drive nut is configured to selectively engage at least a portion of the threads disposed thereon the proximal end of the elongate guide, wherein, in a first non-engaged position, the housing can freely move along the longitudinal axis of the proximal end of the elongate guide and, in a second engaged position, the housing can move in a controlled manner along the longitudinal axis of the proximal end of the elongate guide by rotating the drive nut in either a clockwise or counterclockwise manner; and an elongate bone screw shaft partially retained within the longitudinal channel and configured for rotation within the longitudinal channel, wherein a distal end of the bone screw shaft comprises threads for boring into a portion of a lamina of a cervical vertebra. a laminoplasty plate having a medial portion and comprising: a proximal end portion having a bottom surface defined in a first plane; and a distal end portion having a bottom surface defined in a second plane, wherein, at the medial portion, the first plane and second plane are spaced from each other; and a means for fastening the distal end portion of the laminoplasty plate to a lateral mass portion of a desired cervical vertebra of the patient; a proximal end portion having a bottom surface defined in a first plane; and a distal end portion having a bottom surface defined in a second plane, wherein, at the medial portion, the first plane and second plane are spaced from each other; and a means for fastening the distal end portion of the laminoplasty plate to a lateral mass portion of a desired cervical vertebra of the patient; a lamina setting tool comprising: a means for fastening the proximal end portion of the laminoplasty plate to the lamina portion in the relief position; a means for fastening the proximal end portion of the laminoplasty plate to the lamina portion in the relief position; an elongate guide with a longitudinal axis, and a distal end and a proximal end, wherein the distal end is configured to engage portions of the laminoplasty plate and for releasably engaging the distal end portion of the laminoplasty plate, and wherein the proximal end is at least partially threaded; a housing defining a longitudinal channel and an internal chamber; a means for controllably raising a lamina portion separated from the lateral mass portion to a relief position, wherein the means comprises a drive nut disposed in the internal chamber having internal threads configured for coaxial alignment with the proximal end of the elongate guide, wherein the drive nut is configured to selectively engage at least a portion of the threads disposed thereon the proximal end of the elongate guide, wherein, in a first non-engaged position, the housing can freely move along the longitudinal axis of the proximal end of the elongate guide and, in a second engaged position, the housing can move in a controlled manner along the longitudinal axis of the proximal end of the elongate guide by rotating the drive nut in either a clockwise or counterclockwise manner; and an elongate bone screw shaft partially retained within the longitudinal channel and configured for rotation within the longitudinal channel, wherein a distal end of the bone screw shaft comprises threads for boring into a portion of a lamina of a cervical vertebra.