Abstract: A small bone plate suitable for use, for example, on the cranial skeleton, on the facial skeleton and on micro fragments of other skeleton sections is provided. The bone plate is formed from webs joining screw hole boundaries in a particular fashion; and the plate can be bent in its plane, without deformation of the screw hole boundaries. Thus, insertion of bone screws into the small bone plate is not hindered by deformed screw hole boundaries. The bone plate can be single-legged or multiple-legged. Also provided is a special type of bone screw especially suitable for use with the small bone plate of the invention. The bone screw has a cross-slotted head, with the bottoms of the slots being concave. The screw is also preferably self-tapping and preferably has a conical tip.

Abstract: An extendable bone plate is provided. The bone plate (which can be quite small) features two plate portions which are longitudinally displaceable relative to each other. The bone plate preferably includes screw holes for bone screws and gear means between the plate portions adapted to adjust the relative positions of the plate portions. The plate portions have guide portions which are longitudinally slidable within a guide member. At least one of the guide portions includes a rack; and a gear or pinion is rotatably supported within the guide member engaged by the rack, the gear or pinion having tool-engaging surfaces.