A bone plate system comprises a bone plate including a plurality of anchor portions each including at least one threaded hole therein, and a relatively less rigid portion extending between adjacent anchor portions. The bone plate has a bone contacting surface and a second surface opposite the bone contacting surface. The system includes at least two removable tubular elements, each having a first end assembled in the threaded hole of one of the anchor portions and a second end extending above the second surface of the plate.
