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 (midnight E.D.T. on the date listed each month) and no late submissions will be considered.

December 2020 – ***New Topic*** Preparedness and guidelines for neurosurgical practice during pandemic

Submission Deadline: August 1, 2020
Topic Editors: Franco Servadei (lead), Chen Jincao, Miguel Arraez, John Golfinos, Mahmood Qureshi

The world was caught off guard with the recent Covid-19 pandemic.  The loss of life has been very significant, and the impact on the world economy has been severe.  In this important issue we would invite papers from our international readership on lessons learned, preparedness, and anticipation of the next wave of Covid-19 or other pandemic.  This would also include local processes, guidelines, and care of neurosurgical patients during the pandemic.  In some cases neurosurgeons needed to shift their focus and attention to address medical care on patients with Covid-19.  We would also invite how such retraining can be accomplished, and how shifting was organized, and the specific role of the neurosurgeon in this situation. This issue should serve a critical role as an archive for important information, processes, and guidelines to share with colleagues around the world to better prepare all neurosurgeons for the next event. 

January 2021 – Operative Imaging and Visualization

Submission Deadline: September 1, 2020
Topic Editors: Paul Larson (lead), Peter Nakaji, Walter Stummer

Operative imaging and visualization has become increasing ubiquitous in the neurosurgical operating room. From novel image guidance techniques to new visualization tools and augmented reality, the ways we envision anatomy in the operating room is fundamentally changing the way we perform intracranial and spinal procedures. These advancements can improve safety and clinical outcomes, and enable minimally invasive techniques. Submissions are sought focusing on advanced image guidance, visualization technologies and virtual or augmented reality in spinal and cranial procedures.

February 2021 – Gene and viral therapy for glioblastoma multiforme

Submission Deadline: October 1, 2020
Topic Editors: Nino Chiocca (lead), James Markert, Frederick Lang

Recently, there has been a resurgence of interest in the utilization of gene and viral therapies for GBM with several phase 1, 2 and 3 clinical trials in process or having been completed. In this issue, the science of this technology as well as its applications will be discussed with particular emphasis on those genes and viruses that have been utilized in humans. Manuscripts dedicated to gene therapy and to viral therapy with HSV1, adenovirus, reovirus, parvovirus, poliovirus, Newcastle Disease Virus and retrovirus will be presented. Each of these technologies aims at evoking an immune response against tumor cells. The state of the field and it current challenges with possible solutions will be discussed to allow the reader to understand the current progress of this therapy.

March 2021 – International women leaders in neurosurgery, past and present

Submission Deadline: November 1, 2020
Topic Editors: Shelly Timmons (lead), Karin Muraszko, Gail Rosseau

This issue will highlight various aspects of leadership by women in the field of neurosurgery globally. Submissions related to historical vignettes or biographies of women leaders are welcomed. Of additional interest would be manuscripts describing the establishment and rise of societies that support women in neurosurgery worldwide. We will also be seeking original scientific research on women in neurosurgery examining timelines of women entering the field, board certification patterns, faculty and promotion statistics, and other data that contribute to the development of leaders in the field, including those with a focus on the social sciences. Of interest would be comparisons of opportunities and challenges across different countries and cultures.

April 2021 – Controversies in the management of single suture craniosynostosis

Submission Deadline: December 1, 2020
Topic Editors: Concezio di Rocco (lead), John Kestle, Richard Hayward, Jesse Taylor

Despite gratifying progress there remain many areas of controversy in the management of children with single suture synostosis (SSS). Submissions of original material aimed at untangling these or other knots in the management of SSS are invited. They will undergo rigorous peer review by experts from neurosurgery and plastic/reconstructive surgery and evaluated for the degree to which they address a particular area of controversy. Such topics include, but are not limited to, the following: Genetics and epigenetics - What accounts for the heterogeneity of SSS. Ethics of management - Managing SSS in the child without significant deformity or one with actual or predicted developmental compromise. Cognitive development of children with SSS - Chasing that elusive causal link between SSS and cognitive development. Clinical management of SSS - From no intervention through suturectomy plus or minus orthosis (internal or external) to total calvarial remodeling, and how much weight should be given to the risk of raised intracranial pressure. Results – (1) Functional: Neurocognitive development and late recurrence of increased intracranial pressure. (2) Aesthetic: Assessing long- and short-term results of various surgical approaches and minimizing late-developing post-operative deformity.

May 2021 – Treatment of spinal cord and spinal axial tumors

Submission Deadline: January 1, 2021
Topic Editors: Mark Bilsky (lead), Ziya Gokaslan, John Shin, Nicolas Dea, and Fabio de Moraes

The treatment of metastatic and primary malignant and benign spine tumors is evolving at a rapid pace with the integration of new technologies and evidence-based medicine leading to significantly improved outcomes in this very complicated patient population. Many advances have been in the domain of radiation therapy, first with the development and integration of stereotactic radiosurgery and more recently with the proliferation of sites offering proton beam and carbon ion therapy. In parallel with radiation advances, surgeons have made great strides in integrating minimally invasive technique. In addition to percutaneous cement augmentation and separation surgery, a plethora of interesting technologies are being applied to the spine tumors such as percutaneous PMMA-augmented fenestrated pedicle screws, PEEK-carbon fiber screws, tubular retractors, endoscopy, the DaVinci robot, and spine laser interstitial thermotherapy (SLITT). We are interested in submissions exploring radiation and surgical advances that have demonstrated or have the potential to improve outcomes and reduce morbidity in patients with metastatic and primary spine tumors.

Upcoming Issues (no longer accepting submissions)

August 2020 – Lumbar spinal osteoporosis
Topic Editors: Paul Anderson (lead), Dean Chou, Tim Witham, Brett Freedman

September 2020 – Thoracolumbar Anterior Spine Surgery
Topic Editors: Paul Park (lead), Juan Uribe, Dean Chou, Tokumi Kanemura

October 2020 – Cranial Surgery in Geriatric Patients
Topic Editors: Mark Hamilton (lead), Ian Parney (Mayo), Eric Schmidt (France), Odette Harris (Stanford), Howard Riina (NYU)

November 2020 – Medical Legal Issues in Neurosurgery
Topic Editors: Bharat Guthikonda, Catherine Mazzola (co-leads), Jason Stacy, Mike Steinmetz, Joseph Cheng, Asdrubal Falavigna, Richard Wohns