Is not a plate but more like a
... square fixture with screws. If that helps any :/

What type of “ smaller component installed?”

I have had a plate inserted with c5-6 fusion, more recently that plate removed and a new smaller component inserted bc c5-6 didn't fuse at all after 8 years in addition to c6-7 fused at the same time. Im a mess, I know but ... AS is awful.

Not all the people have that surgery.