Link to 2008 Congress of Spinal Cord Medicine and Rehabilitation conference

Link to 2008 Congress Scholorships

Annual dues. You can now pay online.

Information for Authors

(Revised November 2005)

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine is the peer-reviewed official publication of the American Paraplegia Society (APS). The Journal invites contributions representing original research, reviews, clinical notes, case reports, editorials, technical perspectives, and letters to the Editor.

Online submission and manuscript tracking is available at http://jscm.edmgr.com.

Required forms can be accessed during online submission and off-line at www.apssci.org.

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine is indexed by:

Index Medicus/PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Science Citation Index Expanded, NeuroScience Citation Index, SI Alerting Services, Current Contents/Clinical Medicine, REHABDATA. Inclusion of the journal’s archives on PubMed Central is planned for 2006.

Editorial Policies

The Journal requires an author agreement that specifies exclusive submission, disclosure of conflicts of interest and compliance with applicable permission and privacy regulations.

Exclusive submission.

Manuscripts are considered for publication with the understanding that the material has not been previously published in any form, is not being considered for publication elsewhere, and is therefore submitted exclusively for publication in The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine. Exempted from these policies are conference abstracts [from APS and The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA)] that have been selected for presentation and subsequent publication in the Journal.

Conflict of interest.

Authors must disclose potential conflicts of interest, financial and otherwise, upon submission of the manuscript. This information is entered on the required author agreement form and the details are elaborated in the cover letter. All sources of financial support (funding, grants, equipment, medication, supplies, or services) must be provided, as well as pertinent institutional, corporate and commercial affiliations of the authors, eg, employment, retainers, consultancies, stock holdings, honoraria, and licensing arrangements. Should the editor decide that disclosure to the reader is warranted, the disclosure will appear on the proofs sent to the corresponding author for approval.

Privacy considerations.

Use of patient information and data must be in accordance with the pertinent institutional review boards and the requirements of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). To ensure patient privacy and anonymity, delete any unnecessary identifying information from images, slides, and laboratory information. Similarly, avoid using identifiable descriptors that are not essential to the case discussion. In cases in which patient privacy cannot be ensured, the author must secure written informed consent from the patient(s). Patient anonymity can be compromised by images involving the face or identifiable body parts, detailed case reports, and genetic pedigrees. Informed consent must be kept on file by the author(s). When patient anonymity cannot be assured, the authors must obtain written release from the patient that encompasses print and electronic rights and submit a copy of the signed release to the Journal. For informed consent for publication, the patient(s) should review the article as it will appear in print.

Quality and ethical standards.

Authors of research papers are encouraged to register clinical trials in advance at www.clinicaltrials.gov and to follow the CONSORT standards for randomized trials. Human and animal studies must be guided by the Declaration of Helsinki. (See instructions below for Methods section.) All named authors must have had access to all of the available data and must have contributed substantially to the paper, eg, development, planning, writing and revising, and interpreting results. Individuals who made limited contributions may be named in the acknowledgments after written permission has been obtained by the corresponding author.

Upon publication, authors receive complimentary copies of the issue in which their article appears.

Peer Review

Except as noted below, every manuscript is reviewed by a minimum of 2 peer reviewers. The peer-review process is double-blinded, ie, the identity of reviewers and authors is confidential. The Journal has a panel of more than 150 reviewers in spinal cord medicine and related fields such as psychology, rehabilitation, engineering, nursing, basic science, statistics and health care policy. The peer reviewers consider the importance of the question, originality of the work, appropriateness of the experimental design, soundness of conclusions, and relevance of discussion. The final disposition is made by the Editor. Corresponding authors are notified of acceptance, acceptance pending major/minor revision, revise and resubmit, or rejection. Papers designated ‘revise and resubmit’ must undergo additional peer review.

Authors who wish to appeal a letter of rejection should address their request to the Editor in writing within 30 days of receipt. Such requests are handled at the discretion of the Editor. When additional review is deemed appropriate, this may be assigned to the original reviewers or to new reviewers depending on the circumstance. Every effort will be made to render a final decision within 6 weeks. This decision cannot be appealed.

The following types of submissions are not subject to the peer-review process: transcripts of oral addresses, abstracts of literature and oral or audiovisual presentations, reprinted material, and various position papers originating from the APS Board of Directors and other professional organizations.

Editorial Process

Authors are encouraged to submit their manuscripts online at http://jscm.edmgr.com, the journal’s online system for manuscript submission, manuscript tracking, and peer review. Step-by-step instructions are available at the site, as well as tutorials for authors and reviewers. Required forms include the Author Agreement, which comprises exclusivity of submission, disclosure of conflicts of interest, and compliance with institutional review board policies and HIPAA regulations, and the Transfer of Copyright form. (Copyright transfer is not applicable to federally funded research performed by federal employees.) The corresponding author is responsible for obtaining the signatures required for co-authors. After online submission, receipt of the manuscript will be acknowledged via an e-mail to the corresponding author. The corresponding author will receive email notification of the reviewers’ decision, including specific guidance for any required revision.

When revisions are recommended, the authors are expected to incorporate those changes and submit the revision online within 45 days. Authors should notify the managing editor when the revision requires additional time. Submission of the revised manuscript should be accompanied by a cover letter indicating which revisions have or have not been made. Disagreement with substantive changes as requested by the Editorial Board requires a satisfactory rebuttal.

Accepted manuscripts are subject to final editing that may require the author to make deletions or additions or provide clarification. Manuscripts are copyedited according to the latest edition of American Medical Association (AMA) Manual of Style.1

A proof is emailed to the designated author for approval prior to publication. Corrections must be returned to the production editor within 48 hours.

Publication Categories:

Original Contributions

An original contribution presents new and important information on aspects of basic science or clinical care, extends existing studies, or provides a new approach to a traditional subject. Include only those figures, tables, references, and photographs that are essential in clarifying, amplifying, or documenting the text.

Clinical Notes/Case Reports

These brief reports highlight an interesting observation, and usually involve only a few cases. Extensive review of the literature is unnecessary; tables and figures should be limited.

Editorials

Editorials are accepted only from APS members and the Journal’s Editorial Board, unless otherwise requested by the Editor. Editorials may not necessarily reflect the opinions of the APS Board of Directors or the APS. All editorials must be approved by the Editor or Associate Editor prior to publication.

Letters to the Editor

The Journal welcomes scientific and scholarly letters of comment about published articles. Readers are also encouraged to respond to the opinions expressed in the Journal’s editorials. Letters should be limited to 500 words and a maximum of 5 references, and be submitted in a timely manner. Letters can be sent by e-mail, fax, or mail. The Editor and Editorial Board reserve all rights to determine which letters will be published.

Review Articles

Although review topics and authors may be suggested to the Editor, the selection of review topics and authors is the purview of the Editorial Board. The Assistant Editors handle solicitation of clinical and basic science reviews.

Style Guidelines

Prepare the manuscript using AMA style guidelines, as specified in the AMA Manual of Style.1 For technical and scientific terms, spell the name in full at first appearance. Acronyms or abbreviations should be introduced in parentheses following the first appearance of the full term. Use generic terms for medications.

To maintain confidentiality of the peer review process, authors should avoid references to their own research and publications and avoid mention of their institutions in the text and acknowledgments.

Figures should be saved as TIFF or EPS files. When scanning art work, scan line art at a minimum of 1200 dpi in bitmap mode and save as EPS file; scan halftones at 350 dpi in grey scale mode and save as TIFF file.

Authors submitting online should follow the instructions on the web site for providing manuscript information. Required information includes:

  • Article category.
  • Title of the article.
  • First name, middle initial, last name, and degrees for each author. Persons designated as authors must have contributed substantially to the concept and content, and give final approval for publication. (See Acknowledgments for recognition of other contributors, data collectors, etc.)
  • Current institutional affiliation for each author, as well as the affiliation at the time the manuscript was written.
  • Contact information for the designated corresponding author including mailing address, phone, fax, and e-mail address.
  • Abstract and key words.
  • Source(s) of support for equipment and drugs, including grant support.
  • Tables and figures each in a separate file.
  • Reference list with complete information formatted in AMA style.

Abstract and Key Words

Abstracts are required for original contributions, review articles, technical perspectives, case reports and brief reports. Provide a structured abstract with a maximum of 250 words and a minimum of 4 subheadings (Background/Objective, Methods, Results, and Conclusion). Authors are encouraged to use additional subheadings. For detailed instructions on preparing structured abstracts for different types of submissions, refer to the AMA Manual of Style (pp 19–23). 1

Below the abstract, include a list of 3 to 5 key words or phrases to assist in the cross-indexing of the article. Key words should be selected from the NLM’s Permuted Medial Subject Headings (MeSH), which can be accessed at www.nlm.nih.gov./mesh. Abstracts and key words are not required for editorials and commentaries.

Text

The text is generally divided into major sections with headings such as: Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion. Reviews should be organized by Introduction, Sources, Methods, Results, and Conclusion. Conclusion should include potential clinical applications of results. Case report(s) should be organized by Background, Case Report/Findings, and Conclusion/Comment that addresses relevance to clinical practice.

Introduction

State the purpose or hypothesis and summarize the rationale. Provide only strictly pertinent references, and avoid the mention of data or conclusions.

Methods

For research studies, describe the setting, study design, and selection of subjects, and the materials, procedures/interventions, and statistical methods used. Indicate whether the trial was registered in a public access database, eg, www.clinicaltrials.gov. Neurological deficits should be described according to the most recent edition of the International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury, including motor and sensory levels and ASIA Impairment Scale.2 Randomized trials should follow the recommendations of the CONSORT statement (Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials).3 For studies involving experiments with humans or animals, include a statement of the specific ethical parameters that were followed, eg, the Helsinki Declaration.4

For reviews, include sources and terms for literature searches, selection criteria, and guidelines for extracting data and statistical methods.

Results

Summarize the data in logical sequence, referring to tables and illustrations. Do not repeat these data in the text. Laboratory data may be reported in either conventional or SI units.

Discussion

Review the significance of the findings, relationship to other relevant studies, and implications for the future. New hypotheses can be stated when warranted, but should be clearly labeled as such. Recommendations may be included when appropriate.

Conclusion

Briefly summarize the conclusion(s) in relationship to the study’s purpose. Conclusions should be fully supported by the data.

Acknowledgments

Persons who have contributed intellectually to the paper but whose contributions do not justify authorship may be named and their contribution described. The author(s) are responsible for obtaining written permission from those acknowledged, per AMA Style Manual guidelines.

References

It is the responsibility of the author(s) to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the references. The references should be numbered consecutively in order of appearance in the text and formatted in AMA style. When there are 6 or fewer authors, list them all. For more than 6, list the first 3 and add “et al.” Cite personal/written communications in the text only; do not include in reference list. Use the abbreviations for journal names in Index Medicus/PubMed.

Examples

Articles: Creasey GH, Ho CH, Triolo RJ, et al. Clinical applications of electrical stimulation after spinal cord injury. J Spinal Cord Med. 2004(27):365-375.

Mehta S, Betz RR, Mulcahey MJ, McDonald C, Vogel LC, Anderson CJ. Effect of bracing on paralytic scoliosis secondary to spinal cord injury. J Spinal Cord Med. 2004;27(suppl 1):S88-S92.

Abstracts: Waites KB, Osborn B, Canupp KC, Brookings ES, DeVivo MJ. Microbiology of the urethra and perineum and its relationship to bacteriuria in community-residing men with spinal cord injury.[abstract] J Spinal Cord Med. 2000;23(suppl 1):43.

Book Chapter: Weinstein FM, Herring SA, Cole AJ. Rehabilitation of the patient with spinal pain. In: DeLisa JA, Gans BM, eds. Rehabilitation Medicine. Principles and Practice. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott-Raven; 1998:1423-1452.

Online documents: US Department of Health and Human Services. The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Improve the Health and Wellness of Persons With Disabilities. US Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General, Rockville, Md, July 2005. Available at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov. Accessed July 29, 2005.

Tables

Cite tables in the text and number them consecutively. Provide a brief title for each table and a short heading for each column. Use footnotes for any explanatory material such as non-standard abbreviations, as well as for material cited from other sources. Print tables double-spaced, each on a separate page.

Illustrations

Illustrations should be submitted as electronic files in TIFF or EPS formats. For offline submission, submit electronic images via CDROM or diskette with the manuscript, but in separate files. Labeled hard copy must be included. Do not embed figures in the text. Photographs, laser printouts, and drawings should be of sufficient size so that when reduced for publication, features and labels remain legible. Reserve captions and explanatory materials for the legends page. Authors are responsible for the additional costs for color reproduction.

Legends

Number legends using Arabic numerals corresponding to the illustrations, and list in a separate file. Any identifying marks, letters, or numbers should be clearly explained in the legend. Legends should be brief, reserving extended details for the text.

SUMMARY OF MANUSCRIPT REQUIREMENTS

Online submission.

Manuscripts should be prepared in accordance with the author guidelines and the AMA Manual of Style1 and submitted online at http://jscm.edmgr.com, the Journal’s online program for manuscript submission, tracking and peer review. The required author agreement and copyright transfer forms may be submitted by mail, fax, or scanned and submitted online. Throughout the manuscript, authors should avoid wording that reveals their identities in order to preserve the confidentiality of the review process.

Offline submission.

Authors who are unable to submit online should submit the manuscript (with tables and figures in separate files) via email or on a clearly labeled CDROM or diskette in MS Word, with one print copy of the final version, including all tables and figures. Include a cover letter that identifies the author(s) responsible for manuscript submission, revisions, and approval, and that details any potential conflicts of interests. The author agreement and copyright transfer forms are available for downloading at www.apssci.org, or by contacting the managing editor (see below). The forms may be faxed or mailed to the editorial office.

Note:

Authors who are using material from previously published sources must obtain permission for print and electronic use from the copyright holder and submit documentation to the Journal.

Manuscript Submission

Address manuscripts and inquiries to:

Carolann Murphy, PA, Managing Editor
Kessler Medical Rehabilitation Research and Education Corp. (KMRREC)
1199 Pleasant Valley Way
West Orange, NJ 07052

This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

Phone: 973 243 6880; Fax: 973 243 6970

Disclaimer

Statements and opinions expressed in all articles and communications herein are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of American Paraplegia Society (publisher), United Spinal Association, or the Editorial Board of The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine. The editor(s) and the publisher disclaim any responsibility or liability for such material. American Paraplegia Society (publisher), United Spinal Association, and the Editorial Board of The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine neither guarantee, warrant, or endorse any product or service advertised in this publication, nor do they guarantee any claim made by the manufacturer of such product or service.

References

1. Iverson CL, Flanagin A, Fontanarosa PB, et al. American Medical Association Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors. 9th ed. Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins; 1998.

2. DeAngelis C, Drazen JM, Frizelle FA, et al. Clinical trials registration: a statement from the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. New Engl J Med. 2004;351:1250-1251.

3. ASIA Neurological Standards Committee. International Standards for Neurological Classification of Spinal Cord Injury. 6th ed. Chicago IL, American Spinal Injury Association, 2002.

4. Moher D, Schulz KF, Altman DG for the CONSORT Group. The CONSORT statement: Revised recommendations for improving the quality of reports of parallel-group randomized trials. Available at http://www.consort-statement.org/Statement/revisedstatement.htm. Accessed August 31, 2005.

5. World Medical Assembly. Declaration of Helsinki: Recommendations guiding physicians in biomedical research involving human subjects. JAMA. 1997;277:925-926.

Resources

1. International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Uniform requirements for manuscripts submitted to biomedical journals. [ICMJE web site] October 2004. Available at: http://www.icmje.org/index.html. Accessed August 31, 2005.

Revised: November 2005

Reminder

First authors who are residents, students or fellows may be eligible for JSCM’s Bors Award, an annual award that recognizes excellence in research. Contact the managing editor for an application.