Soft system stabilization of the lumbar spine as an alternative surgical modality to lumbar arthrodesis in the facet syndrome. Preliminary results

Acta Neurochir (Wien). 1995;134(1-2):1-4. doi: 10.1007/BF01428494.

Abstract

The authors present preliminary results in a series of 27 patients with a lumbar and/or lumbosacral facet syndrome operated on by use of the soft-system-Stabilization (SSS) according to Graf. Attention is paid to the correct selection of patients for this surgical technique. Excellent, good, satisfactory, moderate, and poor results were obtained in 19 (70%), 2 (7.5%), 5 (18.5%), 1 (3.5%), and 0 instances, respectively. The authors think that a Graf-procedure may be indicated in young to middle-aged patients with a lumbar and/or lumbosacral facet syndrome with 1.) no arthrotic changes of the facet joints, 2.) a still intact disc and/or only mild loss of intervertebral distance, 3.) well trained low-back muscles, and 4.) a clear-cut pain relief on test-anaesthesia of articular nerves and trial immobilization in a plastic jacket.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Bone Screws
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Intervertebral Disc Displacement / diagnosis
  • Intervertebral Disc Displacement / surgery
  • Low Back Pain / diagnosis
  • Low Back Pain / surgery*
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / pathology
  • Lumbar Vertebrae / surgery*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polyesters
  • Prostheses and Implants
  • Radiculopathy / diagnosis
  • Radiculopathy / surgery
  • Sacrum / pathology
  • Sacrum / surgery*
  • Scoliosis / diagnosis
  • Scoliosis / surgery
  • Spinal Diseases / diagnosis
  • Spinal Diseases / surgery*
  • Spinal Fusion / instrumentation*

Substances

  • Polyesters