RESUMO
Atlantoaxial instability or dislocation is a common upper cervical disease which can lead to serious outcomes including sensory and motor deficit or even sudden death. Therefore, active surgical intervention is often recommended. The most popular surgical procedure for atlantoaxial instability is posterior bone graft and internal fixation. Posterior stabilization techniques mainly include wiring techniques, interlaminar clamp fixation, C1-C2 transarticular screw fixation (Magerl technique), screw-plate systems, and screw-rod systems. Each technique has its advantage and shortcoming. The screw-rod systems, along with various modifications, has become the most popular internal fixation technique for posterior atlantoaxial stabilization in clinic. This article reviews the evolution, characteristics and new advancement of some prevail posterior atlantoaxial fixation techniques in purpose of giving a reference for surgeons to have a better understanding of posterior fixation techniques and make a reasonable choice in clinical practice.