GSJ highlights 2026: new Impact Factor 3.1

Global Spine Journal at GSC 2026

The Editors of Global Spine Journal (GSJ) are pleased to announce the new Impact Factor 3.1—the highest Impact Factor GSJ has ever received—and reaching over 1,000 submissions in 2026! The year marks another dynamic chapter for the GSJ as journal continues to expand its global reach, strengthen its scientific impact, and support the spine community through high-quality, open-access research.

GSJ is in the 1st quartile for the "Orthopaedics" category and the 2nd quartile for the "Clinical Neurology" category. We would like to thank all of you for your support of GSJ, we could not have done this without our authors, reviewers and readers and we are excited to see GSJ continue to progress.

Building on the strong momentum of recent years, GSJ remains a leading platform for multidisciplinary spine research, driven by a highly engaged international network of authors, reviewers, and readers. The journal’s continued growth and impact reflect both the relevance of its content and the commitment of the AO Spine community to advancing evidence-based spine care worldwide.

 

Continued growth and visibility

GSJ maintains its position as a trusted and influential journal in spine care, supported by a steady upward trajectory in impact and global engagement. The journal’s open access model ensures that research findings are widely accessible, enabling faster dissemination of knowledge and broader clinical impact.

With its multidisciplinary focus spanning orthopedics, neurosurgery, and basic science, GSJ continues to attract high-quality submissions from across the globe. This diversity of perspectives strengthens the journal’s role as a comprehensive resource for clinicians and researchers alike.

 

Focus issues and special collections

In 2026, GSJ continues to expand its portfolio of Focus Issues and special collections, offering in-depth exploration of key topics shaping spine care today. These curated collections bring together expert perspectives, clinical recommendations, and emerging research in areas.

The Focus Issue by AO Spine North America and AO Spine Knowledge Forum SCI: Motion Preserving Surgery for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy features six papers that review and synthesize the evidence regarding motion preserving surgery for DCM. 

The GSJ special collections contain groups of articles by topic. The handpicked articles from various issues to provide our readers with a more organized and efficient way to read articles on certain topics.

By consolidating high-impact research around specific themes, the GSJ Focus Issues and Special Collections serve as valuable reference points for spine surgeons seeking guidance on evolving clinical challenges.

Most cited articles of 2026

The most cited papers highlight the topics that are currently driving research and discussion within the spine community.

 

Top cited regular articles:

  1. Multifidus Degeneration: The Key Imaging Predictor of Adjacent Segment Disease
  2. Artificial Intelligence-Assisted MRI Diagnosis in Lumbar Degenerative Disc Disease: A Systematic Review
  3. Reduced Subsidence With PEEK-Titanium Composite Versus 3D Titanium Cages in a Retrospective, Self-Controlled Study in Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion
  4. Comparison of Hounsfield Unit, Vertebral Bone Quality, and Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry T-Score for Predicting Cage Subsidence After Posterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion
  5. Influence of Preoperative Depression on Cervical Spine Surgery Outcomes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

 

Top cited Focus Issue articles:

  1. A Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Patients With Acute Spinal Cord Injury: Recommendations on Hemodynamic Management
  2. An Update of a Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Patients With Acute Spinal Cord Injury: Recommendations on the Role and Timing of Decompressive Surgery
  3. The AO Spine Thoracolumbar Injury Classification System and Treatment Algorithm in Decision Making for Thoracolumbar Burst Fractures Without Neurologic Deficit
  4. Interventions to Optimize Spinal Cord Perfusion in Patients With Acute Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: An Updated Systematic Review
  5. What is the Optimal Management of Metastatic Spine Patients With Intermediate Spinal Instability Neoplastic Scores: To Operate or Not to Operate?

These articles underscore ongoing developments in clinical decision-making, surgical techniques, and the integration of new technologies into spine care.

 

Top downloaded articles published in 2026:

  1. AO Spine Clinical Practice Recommendations for the Management of Subaxial Spine Fractures
  2. Cervical Laminectomy for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Is There A Role in the Modern Day? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
  3. Lumbar Foraminal Morphology Can Affect Outcomes of Indirect Decompression: A Systematic Review and Novel Classification
  4. Motion Preserving Surgery for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy: Where Are We Now?
  5. AO Spine Clinical Practice Recommendations for Adjunctive Medical Therapies in Acute Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: Contemporary Concepts

The most downloaded and read articles provide insight into what resonates most strongly with practicing clinicians, reflecting real-world needs and priorities. They emphasize practical relevance, clinical applicability, and the importance of translating research into everyday patient care.

GSJ awards and recognition 

Recognizing excellence remains a central part of GSJ’s mission. Each year, the journal honors outstanding contributions from its community of authors and reviewers. At the Global Spine Congress (GSC) 2026 in Istanbul, the Editors-in-Chief presented awards for: 

 

Best Reviewers 2025:

We congratulate Wongthawat Liawrungrueang and Mark Lambrechts for receiving the GSJ Best Reviewer Awards for 2025.

Global Spine Journal at GSC 2026 - Wongthawat Liawrungrueang GSJ Best Reviewer Awards for 2025
Jens Chapman, Christian Morgenstern, Karsten Wiechert, and Jeffrey Wang
Global Spine Journal at GSC 2026 - Mark Lambrechts GSJ Best Reviewer Awards for 2025
Jens Chapman, Mark Lambrechts, Karsten Wiechert, and Jeffrey Wang

Best Papers 2025:

  1. Validation of the AOSpine-DGOU Osteoporotic Fracture Classification—Effect of Surgical Experience, Surgical Specialty, Work-Setting and Trauma Center Level on Reliability and Reproducibility
  2. Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion (ALIF) Versus Full-Endoscopic/Percutaneous TLIF With a Large-Footprint Interbody Cage: A Comparative Observational Study

These honors highlight the critical role of peer review in maintaining scientific quality and celebrate the research that has made a meaningful impact on the field.

 

Editorial Review Board and reviewer engagement

A key driver of GSJ’s success is its strong and dedicated reviewer community. The GSJ Editorial Review Board continues to play an important role in ensuring the quality and integrity of published research, bringing together experts from across the globe to guide the peer-review process.

In parallel, initiatives such as ongoing reviewer recognition programs continue to support engagement and acknowledge the essential contributions of reviewers to the journal’s success.

Strong presence at the Global Spine Congress

GSJ continues to maintain a visible and active presence at the Global Spine Congress, AO Spine’s annual flagship international event. The congress serves as a key platform for connecting research with clinical practice, showcasing the latest scientific developments, and celebrating achievements within the spine community.

Abstracts accepted from the congress are published in GSJ in the Global Spine Congress Abstract Book, further reinforcing the journal’s role in disseminating cutting-edge research to a global audience.

The traditional, live, in-person episode of the GSJ Virtual Journal Club also took place during the GSC 2026 focusing on selected GSJ papers on return to play after spine surgery in high-performance athletes. This quarterly collaborative effort with the Seattle Science Foundation discusses a different topic featuring GSJ articles, and the sessions are available to stream anytime.

Bookmark the useful GSJ key collections and Focus Issues

  • The GSJ Special Collections feature hand-picked articles grouped by topic.
  • All GSJ Focus Issues are collected in one place for easy access. The latest Focus Issue by AO Spine NA and AO Spine Knowledge Forum SCI on Motion Preserving Surgery for Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy will be followed by another special topic in September 2026.
  • AO Spine Knowledge Forum Clinical Recommendations streamline the journey of research into clinical practice and help busy clinicians making patient care decisions to make your patients and practice flourish.
  • The quarterly GSJ Virtual Journal Club produced with the Seattle Science Foundation are streamed live and the playlist of recordings is available to watch anytime afterwards.
  • If you are interested in reviewing for the Global Spine Journal, please consider the different opportunities and follow the instructions online.

Looking ahead 

GSJ is well positioned to build on its achievements and further strengthen its role as a leading voice in spine research. We want to take this opportunity to thank and congratulate our authors, reviewers, and readers, whose ongoing contributions remain central to this success. With a growing portfolio of high-impact publications, continued innovation in content, and a strong connection to the global AO Spine community, GSJ is set to drive forward the next generation of evidence-based spine care.