A posterior vertebral plating system, comprising: a pair of plates (32t; 32tt), the plates (32t; 32tt) being mirror images of each other; and a plurality of attachment members; each plate (32t; 32tt) having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of holes (310; 314) extending through the plate (32t; 32tt) from the upper surface to the lower surface, the plate (32t; 32tt) being configured to extend along a posterior ring of a C1 vertebra to a posterior side of a C2 vertebra, the holes (310; 314) 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 the plurality of attachment members insertable through the holes (310; 314) of the plate (32t; 32tt) and into the posterior ring of the C1 vertebra to the posterior side of the C2 vertebra to fix the plate to the vertebra (292; 296), wherein each plate (32t; 32tt) 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, wherein the spacer portion has a width that is less than a width of the ring engaging portion and a width of the posterior engaging portion so as to define a notch along an inside edge of each plate (32t; 32tt). a pair of plates (32t; 32tt), the plates (32t; 32tt) being mirror images of each other; and a plurality of attachment members; each plate (32t; 32tt) having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a plurality of holes (310; 314) extending through the plate (32t; 32tt) from the upper surface to the lower surface, the plate (32t; 32tt) being configured to extend along a posterior ring of a C1 vertebra to a posterior side of a C2 vertebra, the holes (310; 314) 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 the plurality of attachment members insertable through the holes (310; 314) of the plate (32t; 32tt) and into the posterior ring of the C1 vertebra to the posterior side of the C2 vertebra to fix the plate to the vertebra (292; 296), wherein each plate (32t; 32tt) 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, wherein the spacer portion has a width that is less than a width of the ring engaging portion and a width of the posterior engaging portion so as to define a notch along an inside edge of each plate (32t; 32tt). 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, wherein the spacer portion has a width that is less than a width of the ring engaging portion and a width of the posterior engaging portion so as to define a notch along an inside edge of each plate (32t; 32tt).