An occipital plate for use in an occipitocervical fixation procedure to stabilize the base of a patients skull with respect to the patients neck. The occipital plate of the invention is made up of a middle portion having left and right sides, and left and right hinged legs extending outward in opposite directions from the left and right sides of the middle portion. Each of the left and right hinged legs uses a hinge mechanism to secure a spinal rod to the occipital plate.
