Neurocirugía
The journal Neurocirugía, published by Elsevier España and officially backed by the Spanish Society of Neurosurgery (SENEC), positions itself as the flagship publication of Spanish neurosurgery. In reality, it functions more like an internal newsletter than a serious scientific journal.
1. Stuck in the 1990s
In an era of open science, rigorous peer review, and global collaboration, Neurocirugía remains entrenched in outdated practices: small case series without controls, non-systematic reviews, and anecdotal reports masquerading as original research. Instead of progressing, it clings to institutional inertia and editorial complacency.
2. Selection by affiliation, not by merit
The editorial process seems more driven by hospital rank, political proximity, or familiarity with the reviewers than by scientific quality. Articles often get published not because they push the field forward, but because they fulfill institutional expectations. The result: a publication pipeline governed by internal hierarchy, not academic meritocracy.
3. Zero international relevance Outside the Spanish-speaking world, the journal is virtually invisible. It’s rarely cited, absent from major citation indexes, and ignored by the global neurosurgical community. Publishing here offers minimal academic value and no real boost for early-career researchers aiming for international recognition.
4. Cosmetic modernization, structural stagnation The introduction of an English edition in 2017 is little more than a superficial facelift. Translating scientifically weak content does not transform it into valuable research. The journal still lacks robust methodologies, multicenter studies, or impactful clinical trials. It speaks the language of science but doesn’t embody its standards.
5. Elsevier España: printer, not publisher The involvement of Elsevier España seems logistical rather than editorial. There’s little evidence of curation, quality control, or a genuine commitment to scientific excellence. The journal appears content to serve administrative CV-padding purposes rather than influencing practice, policy, or research.
Final Verdict
Neurocirugía (Spanish edition) is scientifically irrelevant, editorially outdated, and structurally self-serving. It survives as an echo chamber of local academic politics. If SENEC wants to lead rather than lag behind, it must radically reinvent its publishing strategy — with integrity, ambition, and openness to critical scrutiny. Until then, this journal remains little more than glorified institutional décor.
Gokoglu A, Yiğit H, Dündar TT, Unur E, Selçuklu A. Impact of Arteriovenous Malformations in the Precentral and Postcentral Gyri on Intracranial Volumes. Neurocirugia (Engl Ed). 2025 Jun 13:500705. doi: 10.1016/j.neucie.2025.500705. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40517905.