The role of neurosurgery journals in evidence-based neurosurgical care.

Neurosurgery journals have played an active role in improving the quality of the neurosurgical literature. This role has expanded to improve the quality of care by incorporating an evidence-based view of neurosurgery practice. Neurosurgery journals have facilitated the organization of knowledge into clinically useful forms via the publication of meta-analyses and dissemination of clinical practice guidelines. Peer review continues to be a core feature of neurosurgery publishing, with attendant ethical and procedural safeguards. Finally, neurosurgery journals have spearheaded innovative responses to cultural and technological changes, including initiatives to deliver high-quality research in electronic formats and support the education of future neurosurgery investigators.