The impact of mental health on patient-reported outcomes in cervical radiculopathy or myelopathy surgery

Abstract Optimizing functional outcomes and disability status are essential for effective surgical treatment of cervical spine disorders. Mental impairment is common among patients with cervical spine complaints; yet little is known about the impact of baseline mental status with respect to overall patient-reported outcomes. This was a retrospective analysis of patients with cervical spondylosis with myelopathy(CM) or radiculopathy(CR: cervical disc herniation, stenosis, or spondylosis without myelopathy) at 2-year follow-ups. Patients were assessed for several health-related quality of life HRQOL) measures at baseline and 24-months post-operatively: Neck Disability Index (NDI), Visual Analog Scale(VAS), Short Form-36(SF) Physical(PCS) and Mental(MCS) Components. Patients were dichotomized by MCS score: LOW-MCS(SF-MCS   60th percentile). Independent and paired t -tests compared improvement in each group for HIGH-MCS and LOW-MCS cohorts. 375 patients were analyzed(65.4yrs, 67.6%F). LOW-MCS radiculopathy patients showed significant improvement in NDI, VAS Neck and Arm Pain(p