Posterior vertebral plating system

A posterior vertebral plating system, comprising:

• a plate having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of holes extending through the plate from the upper surface to the lower surface, the plate being configured to extend along a posterior ring of a C1 vertebra to a posterior side of a C2 vertebra, the holes being spaced in such a way that a first plurality of holes is positionable over the posterior ring of the C1 vertebra to define a plurality of fixation points to the C1 vertebra and a second plurality of holes is positionable over the posterior side of the C2 vertebra to define a plurality of fixation points to the C2 vertebra;
• and
• a plurality of attachment members insertable through the holes of the plate and into the posterior ring of the C1 vertebra to the posterior side of the C2 vertebra to fix the plate to the vertebra,
• wherein the holes have a plurality of columns of threads spaced apart to define a plurality of non-threaded recesses, and wherein the plate further includes a flange extending between adjacent columns of threads of at least one hole near the lower surface of the plate in such a way that the flange impedes the attachment members from being driven entirely through the hole.

A posterior vertebral plating system, comprising:

• a first plate and a second plate wherein the second plate is a mirror image of the first plate, each of the first plate and the second plate having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of holes extending therethrough from the upper surface to the lower surface, each of the first plate and the second plate being configured to extend along a posterior ring of a C1 vertebra to a posterior side of a C2 vertebra, the holes being spaced in such a way that a first plurality of holes is positionable over the posterior ring of the C1 vertebra to define a plurality of fixation points to the C1 vertebra and a second plurality of holes is positionable over the posterior side of the C2 vertebra to define a plurality of fixation points to the C2 vertebra;
• and
• a plurality of attachment members insertable through the holes of the first plate and the second plate and into the posterior ring of the C1 vertebra to the posterior side of the C2 vertebra to fix the first plate and the second plate to the vertebra,
• wherein each of the first plate and the second plate comprises:
• a spacer portion having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal length generally corresponding to the distance between the posterior ring of the C1 vertebra and the lamina of the C2 vertebra;
• a ring engaging portion extending from the first end of the spacer portion and configured to extend along and conform to at least a portion of the posterior ring of the C1 vertebra;
• and
• a posterior engaging portion extending from the second end of the spacer portion and configured to extend along and conform to at least a portion of the posterior side of the C2 vertebra.