Article guidelines and templates for the newest sections of IJSS are provided below. See https://www.ijssurgery.com/page/author-instructions for additional author instructions.
Novel Techniques & Technology
Submissions to this article type should describe a new or modified technique, device, or operative workflow relevant to spine surgery that offers distinct technical value. These manuscripts typically highlight innovations in spine surgery that do not yet meet the scientific rigor or experience to be accepted as regular research articles. These submissions may be early-phase investigations, case series, and other technical pearls.
Manuscript Structure
- Title Page (unblinded): Title, authors (full names and degrees), affiliations, disclosures/conflicts, support
- Manuscript (blinded; 2500 words excluding abstract and references)
- Abstract (200 words: Brief problem, innovation, and relevance)
- Keywords (3-6)
- Introduction
- Technique or Technology Description
- Clinical Application/Example
- Discussion
- Conclusion
- References (30)
Perspectives
Perspective articles provide expert commentary or viewpoint on clinical practices, innovation trends, healthcare policy, surgical ethics, or other timely topics in spine surgery distinctly different from systematic review or meta-analysis.
Manuscript Structure
- Title page (unblinded): Title, authors (full names and degrees), affiliations, disclosures/conflicts, support
- Manuscript (blinded; <4000 words excluding abstract and references)
- Abstract (narrative; 200 words)
- Keywords (3-6)
- Introduction
- Main perspective/argument
- Supporting evidence/experience
- Counterarguments/limitations (if applicable)
- Implications/future directions
- Conclusion
- References
- Figures (6) and Tables (4)
Short Communications
The purpose of short communication submissions is to report new trends, early clinical results, technical insights, or pilot data that are timely, focused, and relevant to spine surgery.
Manuscript Structure
- Title page (unblinded): Title, authors (full names and degrees), affiliations, disclosures/conflicts, support
- Manuscript (blinded; <1500 words excluding abstract and references)
- Abstract (unstructured; 150 words)
- Keywords (3-5)
- Introduction
- Methods
- Results
- Discussion
- Conclusion
- References (<30)
- Figure/table (1 total)
Clinical Images/Videos
This article type is meant to highlight high-impact clinical cases, novel procedures, or rare complications that illustrate innovation or challenge current norms in spine care. Authors may submit images or a video accompanied by a short description of the image/video and learning objectives. Authors should note any unique features of the techniques or distinct characteristics of the patient in the text. If a patient is identifiable in the video, the authors must also provide proof of patient consent.
Manuscript Structure
- Title page (unblinded): Title, authors (full names and degrees), affiliations, disclosures/conflicts, support
- Manuscript (blinded; <1000 words excluding abstract and references)
- Abstract (100 words)
- Keywords (3-5)
- Introduction
- Case Presentation
- Clinical Implications
- References
- Figures (no more than 3) or Video (no longer than 5 minutes)