To present the surgical results of a case series of upper cervical spine stabilization with the use of lateral mass screws of the atlas. Methods: Retrospective review of the surgical results of patients submitted to upper cervical spine stabilization with the use of lateral mass screws of the atlas. Results: Six patients were operated in the period between January 2009 to April 2010, four men and two women. There was no permanent morbidity or mortality in the presented series. The main cause of atlanto-axial instability was trauma and there was just one case of odontoid pathologic fracture from a prostate metastasis. Axis fixation was achieved with the use of three different screw techniques (pars, pedicle and laminar), with equal distribution among the patients. Conclusions: The use of lateral mass screws of the atlas is an important technique to achieve fusion and stability of the upper cervical spine and with the knowledge of the anatomy and of the surgical technique good results can be achieved.1014446Rhoton, A.L., The foramen magnum (2000) Neurosurgery, 47 (SUPPL. 3), pp. S155-S93Penning, L., Wilmink, J.T., Rotation of the cervical spine (1987) ACT study in normal subjects, 12 (8), pp. 732-738. , Spine Phila Pa(1976)Goel, A., Laheri, V.K., Plate and screw fixation for atlanto-axial subluxation (1994) Acta Neurochir (Wien), 129 (1-2), pp. 47-53Menendez, J.A., Wright, N.M., Techniques of posterior C1-C2 stabilization (2007) Neurosurgery, 60 (1 SUPPL. 1), pp. S103-S111Joaquim, A.F., Ghizoni, E., Rubino, P.A., Anderle, D.V., Tedeschi, H., Rhoton, A.L., Oliveira, E., Lateral mass screws of the atlas: Surgical technique and anatomy World Neuro surgery, (2), pp. 359-62Mudo, M.L., Amantéa, A.V., Cavalheiro, S., Joaquim, A.F., (2009) Intraoperative Radiological Visualization of the Occipito-cervical Transition and Upper Cervical Spine: Technical Note Coluna/ Columna, 8 (2), pp. 197-199Harms, J., Melcher, R.P., (1976) Posterior C1-C2 fusion with polyaxial screw and rod fixation Spine (Phila Pa), 26 (22), pp. 2467-2471. , 2001 Nov 15Fiore, A.J., Mummaneni, P.V., Haid, R.W., Rodts, G.E., Sasso, R.C., (2003) C1 Lateral Mass Screws: Surgical Nuances Tech Orthop, 17 (3), pp. 272-277Seal, C., Zarro, C., Gelb, D., Ludwig, S., C1 lateral mass anatomy: Proper placement of lateral mass screws (2009) J Spinal Disord Tech, 22 (7), pp. 516-523Rocha, R., Safavi-Abbasi, S., Reis, C., Theodore, N., Bambakidis, N., De Oliveira, E., Working area, safety zones, and angles of approach for posterior C-1 lateral mass screw placement: A quantitative anatomical and morphometric evaluation (2007) J Neurosurg, 6 (3), pp. 247-254. , SpineParamore, C.G., Dickman, C.A., Sonntag, V.K., The anatomical suitability of the C1-2 complex for transarticular screw fixation (1996) J Neurosurg, 85 (2), pp. 221-224Joaquim, A.F., Patel, A.P., Occipito cervical trauma: Evaluation, classification and treatment (2010) Contemp Spine Surg, 11 (4), pp. 1-5Joaquim, A.F., Patel, A.P., C1 and C2 spine trauma: Evaluation, classification and treatment (2010) Contemp Spine Surg, 11 (3), pp. 1-7Joaquim, A.F., Patel, A.P., Occipito cervical trauma: Evaluation Classification and Treatment (2010) Contemp Neurosurg, 32 (12), pp. 1-6