Abstract: An elongated bone plate having an upper surface and a lower surface is provided along its length with at least a pair of spaced apart screw holes extending therethrough from the upper to the lower surface. The plate is provided, on at least a selected one of its upper or lower surfaces between at least one pair of the screw holes, with an indentation.

Abstract: A template is disclosed for use in preparing a contouring model for a bone plate to be implanted on a bone. The bone plate is the type comprising an elongated strip having at least two screw holes formed therein, adjacent screw holes being joined together by unapertured regions of the elongated strip. The template has a silhouette substantially resembling a selected bone plate, with first portions corresponding to the locations of the screw holes. The first portions are bridged by second portions corresponding to the locations of the unapertured regions of the strip. The second portions are of reduced width relative to a corresponding unapertured region of the bone plate, whereby the template is deformable in the region of the second portions by manual pressure.