Brain & Spine
Journal:: Brain & Spine
Publisher:: Elsevier, official journal of EUROSPINE and EANS
Access:: Open-access
Impact Factor:: ~1.9 (CiteScore 2.1, 2023–2024)
APC:: ~€1,780 (50% waiver for society members)
Editors-in-Chief:: Frank Kandziora, Wilco Peul
✅ Strengths
- Open-access visibility :: Freely accessible; boosts dissemination.
- Society-backed :: Official journal of EUROSPINE and EANS.
- Multidisciplinary scope :: Includes spine & brain surgery, biomechanics, navigation, epidemiology, bioethics, molecular biology, etc.
- Ethical peer-review :: Double-blind review, COPE-aligned policies.
- Early recognition :: Indexed in Scopus, Web of Science.
- Quality promotion :: Reviewer incentives like “Reviewer of the Year”.
⚠️ Weaknesses
- Modest Impact Factor :: ~1.9 — lower than competitors like
Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine(~3.1). - Expensive APC :: ~€1,780 per article; even with 50% waiver, may be a barrier.
- Reputation still developing :: Young journal, still consolidating standing.
- Bibliometric volatility :: IF and CiteScore may not fully reflect scientific rigor.
🔍 Summary Table
| Attribute | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Scope & relevance | Broad, multidisciplinary |
| Access | Fully open-access |
| Peer review | Double-blind, international board |
| Impact | Moderate; improving |
| Costs | High APC unless discounted |
| Best for | Translational research, EU-based collaborations |
🧭 Recommendations
- Ideal for authors prioritizing accessibility and wide reach.
- Less suited for those seeking high-impact journal prestige.
- Society members should apply APC discounts.
- Review thematic fit carefully before submission.
Final Verdict:: Brain & Spine is a legitimate, ethically reviewed, and strategically positioned European journal with increasing relevance. A strong candidate for open-access publication—especially for translational or multidisciplinary spine-brain work—though not yet a top-tier citation vehicle.