How preoperative MCS affects postoperative outcome in joint replacement surgery

We have previously shown that TKR patients who have a low MCS (mental composite score of the SF-36) are less likely to improve physically after TKR. We have proposed that a preoperative intervention targeting low MCS patients might improve post-operative physical outcome; however, traditional mental health correlates (i.e. depression, anxiety, coping skills, social support) of low MCS patients are not known. The purpose of this study was to assess the psychological components represented by low MCS in TJR patients, step one in the process of developing a pre-surgical intervention.