Patent ID: 7303564

Claim:
A method for stabilizing at least three vertebrae in a spine, comprising: attaching a base plate to a first vertebra by positioning a first bone fastener through a first opening in the base plate; attaching the base plate to a second vertebra by positioning a second bone fastener through a second opening in the base plate; coupling an extender plate to the base plate after the base plate is attached to the first vertebra and the second vertebra wherein the step of coupling the extender plate to the base plate comprises positioning a portion of the extender plate over a non-bone contacting top surface of the base plate; loosening the second bone fastener to enable coupling the extender plate to the base plate; attaching the extender plate to a third vertebra by positioning a third bone fastener through an opening in the extender plate, wherein the extender plate is attached to the third vertebra after the base plate is attached to the first vertebra and the second vertebra, wherein the first vertebra is adjacent to the second vertebra, and wherein the third vertebra is adjacent to the second vertebra.