Patent ID: 8298271

Claim:
A method of implanting a multi-segment spinal fixation plate including a first plate segment and an adjacent second plate segment movable relative to the first plate segment, the method comprising: separating a first portion of the first plate segment from a first portion of the second plate segment, attaching a first portion of an instrument to the first portion of the first plate segment, the first portion of the instrument having a pair of resilient legs biased in a closed position, the legs configured to expand to a second position to fit over the first portion of the first plate segment and return to the closed position to securely hold the first plate segment, positioning a second portion of an instrument between the first portion of the first plate segment and the first portion of the second plate segment, the second portion of the instrument having an arm with a thickness configured to fit between the first and second plate segments to create a space between the first and second plate segments, connecting the first plate segment to a first vertebra, and removing the instrument from the between the first portion of the first plate segment and the first portion of the second plate segment.