Spine Deformity Journal | Call for Papers on AI & Emerging Technology

Special Edition of Spine Deformity Journal will focus on Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Digital Technologies in Spine Deformity

This special edition of Spine Deformity Journal invites original research, reviews, and perspective papers exploring the role of AI and emerging digital technologies in the management of spine deformities, and their potential to transform diagnosis, monitoring, surgical planning, treatment delivery, and long-term follow-up.

The field of spine deformity care is already being reshaped by the rapid evolution of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the emergence of new digital technologies now embedded in everyday clinical practice. Far beyond traditional algorithmic prediction, AI enables a growing range of capabilities: automated detection of deformities, curve-type recognition, automated quantitative measurements, and predictive tools that support treatment planning. AI also enhances longitudinal follow-up through intelligent monitoring and improves clinical workflow through AI‑assisted note-taking and documentation support. In addition, AI is transforming education and training by providing access to comprehensive knowledge bases, curated case repositories, and intelligent assistance during real-world consultations.

In parallel, digital technologies such as digital twins, physics-based simulation, connected sensors, and Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled devices continue to mature and complement this new generation of AI. Their most significant contribution now lies in their integration within hybrid, data-rich ecosystems, where enhanced AI can interpret, contextualize, and act upon complex multimodal information. This convergence enables more adaptive and patient-centered models of care, supports continuous assessment, and strengthens clinical decision-making and surgical planning.

At the same time, it remains essential to recognize the ethical, legal, and practical challenges associated with the deployment of AI and digital technologies in clinical care. Issues related to data privacy, transparency, bias mitigation, and equitable access must be carefully addressed. Questions of accountability and responsibility—including how to validate, supervise, and govern AI-assisted decisions—are becoming increasingly central. Furthermore, significant barriers to implementation persist, such as workflow integration, clinician acceptance, interoperability with existing systems, and the need for robust regulatory and quality frameworks. These considerations highlight the importance of cautious, responsible, and evidence-informed adoption of AI-driven innovations and digital technologies in spine deformity management.

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):

• AI in spine deformity imaging, diagnosis, automated measurements, and interpretation
• Predictive analytics for surgery planning, surgical outcomes, and complication risks
• Digital twins and next-generation patient-specific simulation frameworks
• Physics-based modeling and simulation of spine instrumentation strategies
• Hybrid models integrating AI with simulation, sensing, and multimodal data
• Software as a Medical Device (SaMD), validation and verification frameworks, and regulatory pathways
• AI-assisted surgical navigation, robotics, and intraoperative decision support
• Real-world data, wearable technologies, and connected care ecosystems
• Ethical, legal, clinical, and implementation considerations for AI and digital technologies in spine deformity (including accountability, transparency, bias mitigation, data privacy, clinician adoption, digital health literacy and patient empowerment in scoliosis management, regulatory and workflow‑integration challenges)

Submissions are encouraged from multidisciplinary teams spanning clinical, computational, and engineering sciences, as well as innovators from academia, healthcare systems, and industrial research teams, and also those addressing the ethical, regulatory, and implementation challenges outlined above.

• All manuscripts will undergo Spine Deformity Journal's standard peer-review process. Review the Journal's submission process for more information: Submission guidelines | Spine Deformity
• Submission portal: SDJ Editorial Manager®
• Submission deadline: Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CST
• For inquiries, please contact: Spine Deformity Journal

Guest Editors for this Issue:

• Carl-Éric Aubin, PhD, PEng – Polytechnique Montréal & CHU Sainte-Justine, Montréal, Canada
• A. Noelle Larson, MD – Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN, USA