Entering its 43rd consecutive year of service to spinal cord injury professionals, the Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine (JSCM) continues to provide a variety of topics of interest to clinicians and researchers. In this issue, Jani and associates present an analysis of the most influential research articles in the field.1 Their list of the ‘top 100’ is a snapshot of the advances that continue to engage and inform professionals interested in improving the lives of people with spinal cord injury.
The top 100 articles cover six main areas, indicating sustained interest in complications, outcomes and rehabilitation, followed by experimental therapies, acute management and epidemiology. The most cited article was the NASCIS 2 trial by Bracken et al.2 which reported on the use of methylprednisolone or naloxone for acute spinal cord injury. Among the top ten is JSCM article by Kirshblum et al, on the 2011 revisions to the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury.3 The oldest article on the list, by a well-known pioneer, has been garnering citations since 1947.4 The authors focused their analysis on the original contributions of researchers. For a different perspective, see the 2017 publication by Nowrouzi and colleagues, which includes reviews and basic science articles.5
In 2020, the emphasis on complications continues. In this issue, researchers explore new ways to treat the sequelae of spinal cord injury, including respiratory compromise6 and balance deficits.7 and weight gain,8 as well as an association between spinal cord injury and cognitive impairments,9 generating interest in the interrelatedness of co-morbidities.
Also in this issue, outcomes research from Switzerland identifies transportation as a major factor in access to care,10 and in the U.S., a West Virginia study shows that type of insurance is a factor in length of stay, cost of care, and discharge disposition.11 Efforts to track the long-term adjustment of individuals with spinal cord injury extends to the impact of long-term care on their caregivers,12 a relative recent avenue of research.
As the field of spinal cord injury and related disorders continues to evolve, the topics that dominate the top 100 are evolving, too. Preventing and managing complications will remain a major focus, and with increasing longevity, interest in aging with spinal cord injury will grow. New topics will emerge, including integrated technologies, regenerative research, and novel basic science initiatives. With the support of our readers, our authors, and our editors, JSCM will continue to reflect the changing landscape of spinal cord injury research and care.
References
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