Original Research Articles

Full-length manuscripts presenting novel findings from clinical studies, laboratory research, or translational investigations. Research articles should follow IMRAD structure: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion. Provide sufficient methodological detail for reproducibility and include appropriate statistical analysis with effect sizes and confidence intervals. Clinical studies should report according to relevant guidelines: CONSORT for trials, STROBE for observational studies, PRISMA for systematic reviews. Typical research articles range from 4,000 to 8,000 words excluding references and figure legends.

Review Articles

Comprehensive reviews synthesizing current knowledge on significant topics in spine and neuroscience. Reviews should provide critical analysis rather than simple literature surveys. Systematic reviews must follow PRISMA guidelines and be registered with PROSPERO. Narrative reviews should clearly state selection criteria and search methodology. Reviews typically range from 6,000 to 12,000 words. Prospective review authors are encouraged to contact the editorial office with a brief proposal before full submission.

Case Reports

Clinical case presentations highlighting unusual presentations, diagnostic challenges, innovative treatments, or educational value. Case reports should follow CARE guidelines and include appropriate patient consent documentation. Reports are limited to 3,000 words with maximum 6 figures or tables and include brief literature review contextualizing the case significance.

Technical Notes

Brief reports on surgical techniques, procedural innovations, or methodological advances. Technical notes should include sufficient operative detail for reproducibility, clear outcome assessment, and discussion of advantages over existing approaches. Limited to 2,500 words with maximum 4 figures.

General Formatting Requirements

Manuscripts should be prepared in Microsoft Word format using a standard font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or similar in 12-point size with double-spacing throughout. Number all pages consecutively and include continuous line numbering to facilitate review. Margins should be at least 2.5 cm on all sides. Use consistent American or British English spelling throughout the manuscript.

Title Page

The title page should include the manuscript title (concise and informative, avoiding abbreviations), full names of all authors with institutional affiliations and ORCID identifiers, corresponding author contact information including email address, a running title of no more than 50 characters, word count for the main text, number of figures and tables, and 3-6 keywords for indexing purposes. For clinical studies, include trial registration number.

Abstract

Research articles require a structured abstract of 250-300 words organized into Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions sections. Review articles may use an unstructured abstract of similar length. Case reports require an unstructured abstract of 150-200 words emphasizing the educational value. The abstract should stand alone without references or undefined abbreviations.

Introduction

The introduction should provide sufficient background to orient readers who are not specialists in the specific area, clearly state the research question or hypothesis, and briefly outline the study approach. Cite only the most relevant prior work. For surgical studies, describe the clinical problem and rationale for the intervention.

Materials and Methods

Provide sufficient detail for reproducibility by qualified researchers. For clinical studies, describe patient selection criteria, sample size calculations, randomization procedures where applicable, intervention protocols, and outcome measures. Describe imaging protocols, surgical techniques, and follow-up procedures. Statistical methods should be described with sufficient detail including software versions and significance thresholds. Ethics statements must include IRB approval numbers and confirm informed consent.

Results

Present findings objectively without interpretation. Organize results logically using subheadings where appropriate. Report patient demographics, clinical outcomes, complications, and follow-up data. Include appropriate statistical measures such as confidence intervals, p-values, and effect sizes. Refer to all figures and tables in the text. For surgical studies, report operative times, blood loss, and technical outcomes.

Discussion

Interpret results in the context of existing literature on spine and neuroscience. Discuss clinical significance and implications for practice. Compare findings with previous studies, addressing similarities and discrepancies. Address study limitations honestly and suggest directions for future research. Conclude with clear statements of main findings and their clinical implications.

JSN uses the Vancouver reference style with numbered citations in order of appearance in the text. References should be cited as superscript numbers. List all authors when there are six or fewer; for seven or more authors, list the first six followed by et al. Include complete article titles and DOIs where available. Journal names should be abbreviated according to Index Medicus standards.

Figure Requirements

Figures should be submitted as separate files in TIFF, EPS, or high-resolution PDF format. Minimum resolution is 300 dpi for clinical images and 600 dpi for line art. Medical images should be de-identified and include appropriate scale markers. CT and MRI images should indicate window/level settings. Intraoperative photographs require appropriate lighting and anatomical orientation. Color figures are published at no additional charge.

Table Requirements

Tables should be created using the table function in Word, not as images. Each table requires a concise title placed above. Use standard abbreviations defined in footnotes. Patient data should be appropriately aggregated to protect confidentiality. Statistical significance should be clearly indicated with footnote explanations.

Research involving human subjects must have received approval from an appropriate institutional review board or ethics committee, with the approval number stated in the Methods section. Studies should comply with the Declaration of Helsinki. Informed consent must have been obtained from all patients, and consent for publication of identifiable images must be documented.

Animal research must comply with institutional and national guidelines for ethical treatment. Include institutional approval numbers and confirm ARRIVE guidelines were followed. Authors must disclose any conflicts of interest in financial or personal relationships that could influence research.

Authors may submit supplementary files including additional figures, tables, datasets, videos of surgical techniques, and extended methodological descriptions. Video submissions should be high quality with clear narration explaining key procedural steps. Supplementary materials undergo editorial review but not peer review.

Videos

Surgical videos should be submitted in MP4 format with maximum 500MB file size. Include narration explaining technique, anatomical landmarks, and key steps. Patient identifying information must be removed. Videos enhance understanding of technical procedures and contribute to surgical education.

Authors receiving revision requests should respond within the timeframe specified in the decision letter, typically 30-60 days. Include detailed point-by-point responses to all reviewer comments explaining changes made or providing justification for unchanged elements. Highlight or track changes in revised manuscripts to facilitate re-review by editors and reviewers.

Manuscripts may be submitted through ManuscriptZone online portal or using the simple submission form. Required materials include manuscript file, separate figure files, supplementary materials, cover letter, and suggested reviewers. The cover letter should describe clinical significance, confirm ethical compliance, disclose related submissions, and identify the corresponding author.