The Graf stabilisation system: early results in 50 patients

• DOI: 10.1007/bf00298241
• Publication Date: 2004-10-08T13:37:57Z
• Authors: M. P. Grevitt; A. D. H. Gardner; J. Spilsbury; I. M. Shackleford; R. Baskerville; L. M. Pursell; A. Hassaan; R. C. Mulholland
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Lumbar Vertebrae; Adolescent; Bone Screws; Middle Aged; Internal Fixators; 3. Good health; Radiography; 03 medical and health sciences; Postoperative Complications; Spinal Fusion; 0302 clinical medicine; Humans; Female; Low Back Pain; Intervertebral Disc Displacement; Aged; Follow-Up Studies

The results of the first 50 consecutive patients using the Graf stabilisation system are presented. The average age of the patients was 41 years; there were 32 women and 18 men in the group. All patients suffered from intractable symptomatic degenerative disc disease which could be localised to one or more levels. All patients gave a history of chronic back pain, but the mean period of severe disability was 24 months. The mean preoperative disability score (Oswestry questionnaire) was 59%. The average period of follow-up was 24 months (range 19-36 months). At the latest review, the mean disability score was 31%. The clinical results were classified as "excellent" or "good" in 72% of patients, "fair" in 10%, "the same" in 16% and "worse" in 2%. All but three patients felt that surgery was worthwhile. The results have not deteriorated over the period of follow-up.