A bone plate system is adapted to be attached to bone. The system includes a base plate having at least one aperture for location adjacent to a bone member and a bone screw sized to be inserted through the aperture such that the bone screw sits within a seat of the aperture for engaging the bone member. A retainer member is adapted to transition between a deployed state wherein the retainer member at least partially blocks the aperture for retaining the bone screw in the seat, and an undeployed state wherein the bone screw permits the bone screw to be inserted into the aperture. The retainer member automatically transitions to the undeployed state as the bone screw is inserted into the aperture and automatically transitions to the deployed state once the bone screw is seated within the seat.
