Neurosurgical Focus Call for Papers

 New submissions should be prepared following the Instructions for Authors and submitted online through our electronic manuscript submission website. Once you have logged in, click “Add a Manuscript,” select the appropriate Neurosurgical Focus issue from the list under “Electronic Journals,” and complete the submission steps as directed.

Please note submission deadlines are firm (midnight E.D.T. on the date listed each month)

May 2019 Lumbar spinal stenosis
Submission deadline: January 1, 2019
Topic Editors: Robert Heary (lead), Paul Anderson, Paul Arnold

Lumbar spinal stenosis is a frequent diagnosis among middle aged and elderly patients. The diagnostic and therapeutic treatment options have evolved over the past 25 years. Newer and better treatments allow for small surgical options to be considered while spinal instrumentation and fusion procedures, if necessary, are able to be performed through increasingly smaller routes which allow for less perioperative morbidity. Increasing recognition of concerns regarding deformity of the lumbar spine, in addition to stenosis, has led to changes in the recommended surgical options which could potentially relieve the stenosis symptoms while addressing the scoliosis issues at the same time. Much has changed to allow for newer and better treatments to deal with lumbar spinal stenosis in 2019.

June 2019 Radiosurgery and radiotherapy for meningiomas: delivery methods, outcomes, and long-term risks
Submission deadline: February 1, 2019
Topic Editors: Michael McDermott (lead), Steve Braunstein, Jason Sheehan, Lee Rogers

For many neurosurgeons the only form of radiation therapy they are familiar with is radiosurgery. This is understandable as neurosurgeons are responsible for many of the technical innovations in modern radiotherapy/radiosurgery, e.g. Gamma Knife (Leksell), CyberKnife (Adler) and IMRT (intensity modulated radiotherapy; Carrol). However as the individuals with a unique responsibility to recommend the safest forms of treatment we should understand all the options for therapeutic radiation therapy for meningiomas of the central nervous system.

In this issue we invite experts to address basic radiobiology for neurosurgeons and the many platforms for treatment delivery. Recent important results that should affect evidence-based treatment will be reviewed. Results from the primary treatment setting and the treatment of residual and recurrent tumors will be addressed.

We hope that our readers will find this issue educational, informative and important for trainees who are learning about the options for treatment for patients with primary and recurrent meningiomas.

July 2019 – Aneurysm formation, growth and rupture: the biology and physics of cerebral aneurysm
Submission Deadline:  March 1, 2019
Topic Editors: Charles J. Prestigiacomo (lead), Matthew Gounis, L. Fernando Gonzalez, Juhana Frösen

The rupture of a cerebral aneurysm is a potentially devastating event for the patient, and the patient’s family. With a mortality of approximately 50% and an additional morbidity of 25%, almost 3 in four patients sustaining a subarachnoid hemorrhage never return to their pre-ictal baseline. Trying to understand how aneurysms form, grow, and rupture is but one of the methods by which scientists and clinicians can help to improve upon these statistics. Science and technology have been instrumental in providing researchers from seemingly disparate fields the tools to help unravel the biology, mathematics and physics of aneurysm initiation, growth, rupture and recurrence. Over the last 20 years, the body of literature discussing cerebral aneurysms and their formation and rupture has expanded to incorporate contributions from geneticists, molecular biologists, mathematicians and engineers. This issue of Neurosurgical Focus shall serve as a comprehensive collection of articles that looks at the biology, mathematics and physics of aneurysm formation. Authors are encouraged to contribute manuscripts that describe the current and at times controversial theories of how and why cerebral aneurysms form.

August 2019 – Primary and secondary infections of the brain
Submission Deadline:  April 1, 2019
Topic Editors: Ariane Lewis (lead)

September 2019 - History of Cerebral Localization
Submission Deadline:  May 1, 2019
Topic Editors: Mark Preul (lead) Charles Prestigiacomo, Teo Forcht-Dagi, Javier Fandino

Cerebral localization has a tremendously complex and intriguing history. From Hippocrates who recognized the laterality of the hemispheres, to Gall’s attempts to attribute emotions and higher cortical functions through the pseudoscience of phrenology, to Wilder Penfield’s defining work on corticography in man, the field of cerebral localization has inspired a tremendously rich and colorful literature. This issue of Neurosurgical Focus intends to survey the intellectual history of the field of cerebral localization and calls for papers around the historically significant individuals, milestones, and events that have marked its intellectual development. Authors are invited to focus on particular historical periods, theories, figures, innovations, instruments, advances, instruments, technologies, bibliographies, or experiences. Submissions should be significant original historical contributions, presenting new information, or renewed historical analyses. Papers should not be simplistic chronologies, retellings of well-known events or biographies, cover current clinical study or clinical reviews. They should be engaging, in-depth research works that contribute historically, intellectually, and scientifically to the readership with appropriate illustrations which serve to further bring the topic alive. Authors should be aware that careful referencing, approval, and provenance is often required for use of historical materials in publication.

October 2019 - Spina bifida
Submission Deadline:  June 1, 2019
Topic Editors: Erin Kiehna (lead) Catherine-McClung Smith, Jeffrey Blount, Eylem Ocal, Sandip Chatterjee

Spina bifida is the most common birth defect affecting the central nervous system. Over the past 70 years, mortality has decreased to 3% and many pediatric patients with spina bifida are now entering adulthood. Progress has been made but new challenges have arisen.This special issue of Neurosurgical Focus is devoted to the management and prevention of open myelomeningocele including science based advocacy for prevention of folate sensitive spina bifida, intrauterine closure candidacy and counseling, technique and outcome, MMC related hydrocephalus (including the expanding role of endoscopic third ventriculostomy with choroid plexus coagulation (ETV_CPC), management of the Chiari II malformation and the transitional care of spina bifida patients into adulthood.

November 2019 - Update on head trauma
Submission Deadline:  July 1, 2019
Topic Editors: TBA

December 2019 - Image modalities for neurosurgical disease 
Submission Deadline:  August 1, 2019
Topic Editors: Josh Osborn (lead), Ralph Dacey

January 2020 - Pediatric brain tumor-evolving treatment strategies 
Submission Deadline:  September 1, 2019
Topic Editors: TBA

Upcoming Issues (no longer accepting submissions)

February 2019 Cerebral revascularization
Topic Editors: Jonathan Russin (lead), Ying Mao, Peter Vajkoczy, Satoshi Kuroda, Amir Dehdashti

April 2019 Enhanced recovery after surgery in the spine
Topic Editors: Michael Wang (lead), Andrew Dailey, Neil Berrington, Enrico Tessitore