The Graf Soft Stabilization System in Degenerative Lumbar Spine Instability

Although various kinds of spine stabilizing instruments have been developed over the past years for the treatment of unstable lumbar spinal disorders, the subject is still controversial and contradictory reports are seen in the literature.

Among such instruments, Graf instrument has attracted much interest because of the originality of the idea as s soft stabilizer.

All patients suffered from intractable symptomatic degenerative disc disease which could be localized to one or more levels.

The results of the 30 consecutive patients using the Graf stabilization system are presented from Jan. 94 to Dec. 95.

I have performed Graf soft fixation system on 30 cases of degenerative lumbar spine diseases for 2 years and more than 3 months of postoperative follow-up.

1) There were 10 males and 20 females.

2) The main preoperative diagnosis and evaluation was a severe back pain caused by degenerative disc disease with instability.

3) The most common operation level was a single level, L4/5 in 8 cases(27%), followed by two levels, L4/5+L5/S1 in 6 case(20%).

4) Out of the 30 operated cases, the follow-up results for low back pain were excellent in 14 cases(47%),good in 10 cases(33%).

Although the follow-up in relatively short, the results from this study are sufficiently encouraging to prompt this report. Compared with conventional instrumented spinal fusion, the advantages of Graf system are less surgical trauma with shorted hospital stay and faster rehabilitation with early normal life, The Graf system instead of rigid implant is highly recommendable in managing unstable lumbar disorders.