OBJECTIVE

To determine the association of Depression with clinical outcomes in patients treated surgically for cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) using an anterior approach.

METHOD

An observational study was conducted in patients with ECM. The Beck scale, modified scale of the Japanese Orthopedic Association (mJOA), neck disability index (NDI) and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) were used preoperatively, one month and 3 months after surgery.

RESULTS

Initial VAS showed more severe degrees in patients with depression. At one month and third month after surgery, there was a significant decrease in pain in the group without depression (p = 0.03). The mJOA at one month and three months was observed that the degree of severity decreased in both groups, being more noticeable in the group without depression (p = 0.02). Presurgical NDI was higher in the group with depression. At three months in both groups the improvement was noticeable with respect to the degree of preoperative disability.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a favorable relationship in patients with ECM undergoing surgical treatment in the absence of depression prior to surgery and clinical evolution, with the possibility of promoting multidisciplinary management prior to surgery in patients with depression.