Association between self-reported mental health and resource utilization in patients undergoing elective lumbar fusion

The findings of this study demonstrated that patients with below average mental health (MHT scores <40) may not be a risk for increased resource utilization or cost. However, the study results did suggest that patients with above average mental health (MHT scores >50) have better outcomes, and cost less than other groups during the initial recovery phase following elective lumbar fusions.