A wire insertion device for attaching a bone plate to a bone is used in a method which includes the steps of placing a first surface of the wire insertion device (4) against the bone, inserting a reference wire (5) through an opening (16) of the wire insertion device extending therethrough from the first surface of the wire insertion device to a second surface of the wire insertion device, removing the wire insertion device from the reference wire and positioning a bone plate (8) on the bone by moving the bone plate in a transverse direction relative to a longitudinal axis of the reference wire so that the reference wire is received within a slot (36) of the bone plate, the bone plate including a first surface (39) facing toward the bone and a second surface (38) opposing the first surface, the slot open to a lateral side surface (35) connecting edges of the first and second surfaces.
