title: The Graf stabilisation system: early results in 50 patients.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Spinal Disorders Unit, Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Grevitt
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Gardner
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Spilsbury
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Shackleford
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Baskerville
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Pursell
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hassaan
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Mulholland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D016268:Internal Fixators; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011859:Radiography; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation*