Advances in Hand Surgery and Hand Therapy
Call for Submissions of an Expression of Interest for an Adv Clin Exp Med Special Collection on
Advances in Hand Surgery and Hand Therapy
Handling Editors
Prof. Paweł Reichert; Clinical Department of Orthopedics, Traumatology and Hand Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland; ORCID: 0000-0002-0271-4950
Assoc. Prof. Aleksandra Królikowska; Physiotherapy Research Laboratory, University Centre of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Wroclaw Medical University, Wrocław, Poland; JBI Centre for Evidence-Based Healthcare, Poland, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia; ORCID 0000-0002-6283-5500
Dr. Marta Jokiel; Department of Orthopedics, Traumatology and Physiotherapy in Rare Diseases, Dega Institute, Department of Traumatology, Orthopedics and Hand Surgery, Department of Physiotherapy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland; ORCID 0000-0002-6078-4498
Dr. Ewa Breborowicz; Department of Traumatology, Orthopaedics and Hand Surgery, Wiktor Dega Orthopaedic Institute, Laboratory of Microsurgery and Functional Studies of the Musculoskeletal System, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland; ORCID 0000-0002-4184-4475
Prof. Leszek Romanowski; Department of Traumatology, Orthopaedics and Hand Surgery, Wiktor Dega Orthopaedic Institute, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland; ORCID 0000-0003-4531-5447
Prof. Piotr Czarnecki; Department of Traumatology, Orthopaedics and Hand Surgery, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland; ORCID 0000-0002-2890-8139
Dr. Filip Dąbrowski; Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Medical University of Gdańsk,Poland; ORCID 0000-0002-1784-992X
Dr. Robert Prill; Center of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University Hospital Brandenburg/Havel, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany; ORCID 0000-0002-4916-1206
Outline
The hand is a remarkably complex organ, and even minor injury or disease can severely impair its function, making precise assessment essential for accurate diagnosis, effective treatment, and successful rehabilitation.
Hand surgery combines orthopedics, plastic and reconstructive surgery, microsurgery, and traumatology. Advances in techniques, biomaterials, and regenerative medicine continue to improve outcomes and quality of life. Hand therapy – encompassing physiotherapy, occupational therapy, splinting, pain management, and patient education – plays an equally vital role in restoring fine motor skills after delicate surgical repair.
Effective management of hand conditions depends on close interdisciplinary collaboration among surgeons, therapists, and other professionals. Despite progress, challenges remain in achieving long-term functional recovery, improving patient-reported outcomes, and ensuring equitable access to care. Evidence-based healthcare (EBHC) provides the foundation for modern practice, integrating clinical expertise, research evidence, and patient values.
In recognition of these ongoing developments and collaborative efforts, this Call for Submissions accompanies the 13th Congress of the Polish Society for Surgery of the Hand and the 3rd Congress of the Polish Society for Hand Therapy, to be held in Wroclaw, Poland, on October 10–11, 2025, organized by the Polish Society for Surgery of the Hand, the Polish Society for Hand Therapy, and the Clinical Department and Department of Orthopedics, Traumatology and Hand Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University.
Scope of the Special Collection
Articles submitted should address the broad field of hand surgery and hand therapy. Contributions may focus on fundamental principles of hand function, such as anatomy and biomechanics, clinical examination, functional assessment, imaging, electrodiagnostic studies, and patient-reported outcome measures, as well as modern diagnostic approaches, surgical techniques, therapeutic strategies, and interdisciplinary care.
Suggested topics include, but are not limited to, hand surgery and hand therapy in the following conditions:
- Traumatic injuries: fractures, dislocations, flexor and extensor tendon injuries, nerve and vascular injuries, amputations and replantations, and complex post-traumatic reconstructions.
- Degenerative and inflammatory diseases: osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and other connective tissue diseases.
- Neurological conditions: stroke, tetraplegia, peripheral and central neurologic diseases, and nerve compression syndromes.
- Congenital and developmental disorders: congenital anomalies and deformities in children, including malformations requiring surgical correction and long-term therapy.
- Metabolic and systemic disorders: diabetes-related hand conditions and other systemic metabolic diseases affecting the hand.
- Burns of the hand: acute surgical treatment, reconstructive procedures, and long-term rehabilitation, including scar management, splinting, and functional recovery.
- Tumors of the hand and wrist: benign and malignant tumors.
- Infections: acute and chronic infections.
- Vascular disorders: Raynaud’s phenomenon, ischemic conditions, and vascular insufficiency of the hand.
- Iatrogenic and secondary conditions: complications after surgery, contractures, scarring, stiffness, and chronic pain syndromes.
- Other common hand problems: Dupuytren’s contracture, trigger finger, ganglion cysts, and other frequently encountered conditions.
Keywords
anatomy; arthritis; arthritis, rheumatoid; biomechanics; burns; congenital abnormalities; diagnostic techniques and procedures; evidence-based practice; fractures, bone; functional assessment; hand rehabilitation; hand surgery; microsurgery; neoplasms; nerve injuries; occupational therapy; orthotic devices; reconstructive surgical procedures; rehabilitation; tendon injuries; wounds and injuries
The Special Collection will consider original research articles, including clinical, translational, and experimental studies, as well as systematic reviews and scoping reviews.
Submission process
Authors should first submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) with a working title and structured abstract of the proposed original article or review to the managing editor: marek.misiak@umw.edu.pl. All EOIs will be reviewed by the Guest Editors and Editor-in-Chief, and selected authors will be invited to submit full manuscripts via the standard ACEM editorial platform.
All accepted papers will undergo full peer review by at least two independent reviewers.
Dates and fees
- Expression of Interest deadline: December 31, 2025
- Invitation for full paper submission: by February 28, 2026
- Full manuscript submission deadline: June 30, 2026
Article processing charges apply as per the standard policy: https://advances.umw.edu.pl/en/article-processing-charges
In exceptional cases (e.g., outstanding invited submissions), fees may be reduced or waived.
We eagerly anticipate a diverse and truly global collection of papers and insights, driving scientific discovery and innovation to new heights on the world stage!