Spinal plate system for stabilizing a portion of a spine

A spinal plate system that maintains intervertebral spacing and spinal stability is provided. A spinal compression plate includes two or more plates (32,34) coupled together to form an adjustable-length plate. Movement of plates (32,34) in a spinal compression plate may be uni-directional. Compression of a spinal compression plate movement may mimic natural settling of bones in a spine and/or distribute at least a portion of a vertebral load to an implant positioned between two vertebrae. Maintaining at least a portion of the vertebral load on an insert may increase bone growth and increase fusion between an implant and surrounding vertebrae. A removable spacer (134) coupled to the spinal compression plate establishes an initial separation distance between a first plate (32) and a second plate (34) during an insertion procedure.