title: Soft system stabilization of the lumbar spine as an alternative surgical modality to lumbar arthrodesis in the facet syndrome. Preliminary results.
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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Physical Medicine, Hôspital Régional de Porrentruy, Switzerland.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Markwalder
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dubach
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Braun
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001863:Bone Screws; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011091:Polyesters; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011843:Radiculopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D012447:Sacrum / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012600:Scoliosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters