Objective:

To assess the relationship between mental health and functional outcomes, specifically pain and disability, after anterior cervical spine surgery and to develop a predictive model for preoperative patient counseling.

Key Findings:

• Patients with worse mental health (higher HADS scores) reported poorer functional outcomes (higher NDI scores) post-surgery, indicating a significant relationship.
• The predictive model indicated that baseline mental health significantly influences postoperative recovery trajectories, suggesting its utility in clinical settings.
• Changes in HADS scores correlated with changes in NDI scores, suggesting that mental health improvements may lead to better functional outcomes, emphasizing the need for mental health interventions.

Interpretation:

Mental health status is a significant predictor of functional outcomes after anterior cervical discectomy, highlighting the need for preoperative mental health assessments to improve patient outcomes.

Limitations:

• The study relies on self-reported measures, which may introduce bias and affect the reliability of the findings.
• The sample may not be representative of all cervical spine surgery patients, limiting the generalizability of the results.

Conclusion:

Improving mental health preoperatively could enhance postoperative recovery, and the developed predictive model can aid in patient counseling, emphasizing the integration of mental health assessments into preoperative protocols.