Neurosurgical Focus Call for Papers
New submissions should be prepared following the Instructions for Authors.
The subject matter of your manuscript must fit the monthly topic; if it does not fit the topic, your manuscript will not be processed for peer review.
Information concerning Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis
Please note that systematic reviews (summary of scholarly literature related to a particular research topic or question) and meta-analyses (statistical techniques to combine data from the examined individual research studies) will only be considered for publication if they represent a contribution to the existing literature, and provide insights that help guide practice. Similarly, reviews of national databases should not be submitted if they do not add substantially to our previous knowledge from previously published studies citing novel primary data.
Please submit your manuscript through Neurosurgical Focus submission site.
When you have logged in, click “Submit a Manuscript” and continue on with your submission. Please select the correct monthly topic from the pulldown menu choices. Complete all steps as directed, through to the Submit button.
Please note: submission deadlines are firm (11:59 p.m. ET on the date listed each month) and no late submissions will be considered.
2024 Issues
February 2024 - Low-grade glioma in adults: contemporary management
Submission Deadline: October 1, 2023, 11:59 p.m. ET
Topic Editors: Hugues Duffau (lead), Mitch Berger, Priscilla Brastianos, Nader Sanai, Emmanuel Mandonnet, Guy McKhann
The management of diffuse low-grade gliomas (LGGs) in adults has been a matter of controversy for many decades. However, advances in genetics, imaging, and treatments have led us to think differently about LGG patients and to evolve toward an individualized management. An improved knowledge of neural networking now enables modulation of the treatments according to the interaction between the glioma and the brain, with the goal of improving both patient survival and quality of life. This issue of Neurosurgical Focus will examine new concepts able to optimize the onco-functional balance of personalized therapeutic attitudes. Progress in molecular biology will be discussed. Metabolic and functional neuroimaging should be presented. The role of early and (supra)marginal safe connectome-based resection with awake cortical and subcortical mapping and intraoperative electrophysiological and cognitive monitoring will be detailed. Better prediction of the extent of resection and postoperative recovery as well as the principle of multistage therapeutic approaches adapted to the functional connectivity and neuroplastic mechanisms related to patterns of glioma progression will be considered. The integration of the surgical procedure(s) in a multimodal management combining chemotherapy and radiotherapy should be described. Reporting of functional outcomes for LGG patients, including epileptological, neuropsychological, and behavioral aspects, is encouraged for peer review.
March 2024 - Management of dural fistulas
Submission Deadline: November 1, 2023, 11:59 p.m. ET
Topic Editors: Luca Regli (lead) Stavropoula Tjoumakaris, Menno Germans, Fernando Gonzalez, Georges Rodesch, Ivan Radovanovic, and Michihiro Tanaka
Intracranial and spinal dural arteriovenous fistulas (DAVFs) are rare vascular disorders characterized by an abnormal connection between dural arteries and a venous drainage channel, such as a leptomeningeal vein or dural sinus. They account for approximately 10%–15% of all intracranial vascular malformations. Early diagnosis and appropriate management are crucial in the treatment of DAVFs to prevent potential complications such as hemorrhage or neurological deterioration. A detailed understanding of the pathophysiology and angioanatomy is imperative for the management of this disease. The risks and burdens of conservative management should be weighed against invasive treatment, with the goal of achieving complete elimination of the DAVF. This issue will examine a deeper understanding of the pathophysiology and angioanatomy of intracranial and spinal DAVFs and their impact on treatment decisions. We encourage submissions with an individualized approach to patients with DAVFs, which can involve epidemiology, natural course, pathophysiology, and angioanatomy of the pathology. In particular, new insights into the understanding of this disease are being supported. Furthermore, emphasis will be placed on comparing treatment modalities in subtypes of DAVFs to determine the relevance of developing future comparative studies.
April 2024 - Cranio-orbital and orbitocranial approaches
Submission Deadline: December 1, 2023, 11:59 p.m. ET
Topic Editors: Jacques Morcos (lead), Christian Matula, Maria Peris Celda, Georgios Zenonos, Nickalus Khan, Samy Youssef, Kris Moe
Skull base surgery has undergone and continues to witness evolutionary transformations. The long espoused surgical philosophy of removing bony obstacles to widen surgical corridors remains valid, although it has been substantially modified and influenced by technological innovations, including endoscopic equipment, drills, ultrasonic aspirators, and lasers among others. Skull base teams have flourished, and the multidisciplinary approach has become standard. Neurosurgeons, rhinologists, head and neck surgeons, oculoplastic surgeons, and other specialists routinely team up during individual surgeries. The orbit, whether it is used as a surgical route to tumors of the skull base or the brain, aneurysms of the cerebral vasculature, or whether it is the destination of the surgical approach to resect intraorbital lesions, is no exception to these evolutionary forces. This issue of Neurosurgical Focus will focus on the state-of-the-art surgical understanding and techniques of all the variants of orbital approaches, including an exposition of the relevant surgical anatomy. It will address both open microsurgical transcranial as well as open and endoscopic transorbital approaches and their utility, drawbacks, and applications to a variety of lesions. Nonneurosurgeon specialists are also encouraged to share their relevant expertise in this issue. We hope to demonstrate the variety of philosophies and techniques used today, as well as contrast contradictory beliefs and encourage discussion and debate.
May 2024 - Contemporary management of chordoma
Submission Deadline: January 1, 2024, 11:59 p.m. ET
Topic Editors: Paul Gardner (lead), Maria Peris Celda, George Zenonos, Shannon MacDonald, Ziya Gokaslan, and Shaan Raza
Chordomas of the skull base and spine have traditionally been treated with maximal resection and radiation therapy. However, this paradigm often fails due to inadequate resection or radiation therapy, poorly planned care and follow-up, and/or aggressive tumor biology. Many advances have been made regarding surgical approach, radiation techniques, and the genetic and molecular understanding of these tumors in the past decade. This issue of Neurosurgical Focus will examine all aspects of the diagnosis and treatment of chordomas, including state-of-the-art and standard of care surgical and radiation treatments, molecular markers for prognosis, and molecular targets for treatment. Key anatomy of the skull base and spine will be addressed as well as ongoing molecular and genetic studies, which are used for translation into chemo- and immunotherapy options for patients. Integration of these techniques and concepts will provide a primer for modern chordoma care.
June 2024 - Spasticity and other movement disorders
Submission Deadline: February 1, 2024, 11:59 p.m. ET
Topic Editors: Kim Burchiel (lead)
Neurosurgical treatment of movement disorders has been an area of active clinical progress and research over the past three decades. Much of that accomplishment has been through the use of deep brain stimulation (DBS) and other procedures for Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and dystonia. Spasticity is often not incorporated in the list of disorders that might benefit from advanced neurosurgical intervention. This issue of Neurosurgical Focus will address procedures that cover the entire spectrum of surgery for movement disorders and provide an update on new data for the treatment of movement disorders, including intrathecal agents for spasticity, open surgical treatment of spasticity, awake and asleep DBS, and focused ultrasound, and new innovative and advanced treatments for all movement disorders.
July 2024 - Concussion and return to play
Submission Deadline: March 1, 2024, 11:59 p.m. ET
Topic Editors: Russ Lonser (lead), Nick Theodore
Concussions can occur across any activity of life, including sports. Critical understanding of the pathobiology, epidemiology/etiology, and management of concussion continues to expand at an exponential pace. This issue of Neurosurgical Focus will examine state-of-the-art understanding of concussion pathobiology, emerging data examining the epidemiology/etiology, current methodology for diagnosis, preventive measures, and advanced management strategies, including return to work and play. Contributors to this issue will consist of a multidisciplinary group of experts, including neurosurgeons, neurologists, sports medicine physicians, radiologists, and concussion/brain injury scientists. Integration of these concepts will provide the reader with the latest understanding of concussion.
August 2024 - Transitional care in neurosurgery
Submission Deadline: April 1, 2024, 11:59 p.m. ET
Topic Editors: Laura-Nanna Lohkamp (lead), Jeffrey P Greenfield, Pierre-Aurelien Beuriat
Transitional care (TC) in neurosurgery is an evolving area of expertise as it addresses a number of surgical diseases that, while first encountered in children, may involve long-term postoperative sequelae that persist into adulthood and require treatment or surveillance. These diagnoses are often complex and therefore represent a challenge for care providers and institutions in terms of establishing a transitional care framework, continuous care coordination, and mentoring neurosurgeons for bilateral training. Different TC models have been adapted with variable degrees of success and indicate that the process of care transition requires optimization at different stages. This issue of Neurosurgical Focus will summarize concepts and established models of neurosurgical TC, including institutional and subspecialty-driven examples. The issue seeks to highlight areas of improvement and potential opportunities in this field.
Upcoming Issues (no longer accepting submissions)
October 2023 - Management and controversies of antithrombotic medication in neurosurgery
Topic Editors: Jehuda Soleman (lead), R. Loch Macdonald, Ladina Greuter, David Seiffge
November 2023 - Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the goal of reducing health care disparities in Neurosurgery
Topic Editors: William Ashley, Jr. (lead), Richard Benson, Sonia Eden, Jeffrey Nadel, Sandra E. Ford, William McDade, Olawale Sulaiman
December 2023 - Enhanced recovery after cranial surgery
Topic Editors: Walavan Sivakumar (lead), Neil Martin (lead), Luca Regli, Sarah Menacho, Randy D'Amico
January 2024 - Mixed reality in neurosurgery: preoperative planning, intraoperative navigation, education, training, and rehabilitation
Topic Editors: Giuseppe E. Umana (lead), Camilo Molina, Hani Marcus, Anna Miserocchi
