A folding anterior cervical locking plate system for stabilizing the cervical spine in a spinal fusion procedure. The plate system has at least two plate sections hinged together by a hinge structure at adjacent ends for pivoting movement of the plate sections relative to one another through at least 90° in each of two directions. A first hole in each plate section enables visualization of the underlying graft. A locking plate spans adjacent ends of the plate sections and holes in the locking plate are aligned with holes in adjacent plate sections so pedicle screws inserted through the holes in the locking plates extend through the holes in the plate sections to secure the system to the vertebral bodies and stabilizes the cervical spine. In one embodiment the locking plate slides in guide channels on opposite side edges of the plate sections.
