June 2017, JSS

Welcome to the second issue of the Journal of Spine Surgery for 2017. JSS is rapidly growing and expanding its readership, receiving submissions internationally from a broad scope of research including clinical studies, basic laboratory research, case reports and Masters of Surgery videos. JSS had a very successful event at the recent 2017 Spine Society of Australia meeting held in Hobart, Australia. We would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation for the enthusiastic and energetic support from all the editorial board members, authors, reviewers and readers.

We trust you will enjoy and learn from the latest articles from this edition of JSS. There are some notable contributions. Elsamadicy et al. demonstrate in an elegant retrospective analysis of 230 patients that the choice of immediate post-operative pain medication can make a difference in the hospital course for patients. Identifying these types of factors may help increase patient care and reduce health care costs.

In an analysis of the Hopkins database by Ali Bydon’s group demonstrate a significant association between preoperative depression and functional outcomes following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. This adds to the growing evidence in the literature demonstrating the significance of baseline psychosocial comorbidities in influencing clinical outcomes following spine surgery.

This issue also show cases multiple case reports including exciting work in the field of endoscopic spinal surgery, adult spinal deformity and expandable cage designs.

This issue also features an exciting Masters of Spine Surgery article, showcasing an anterior lumbar vertebrectomy via a direct anterior approach.

Please do not forget to follow JSS on Twitter (@JSS20152016) and on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/journalofspinesurgery) to get all of the most recent updates on the journal.

We hope you enjoy this issue of Journal of Spine Surgery.

Acknowledgements

None.