Infection, Tumor, and Trauma of the Spine: Current Concepts and Future Directions in Complex Spine Surgery

Complex spinal disorders, encompassing spondylodiscitis, spinal tumors, and traumatic spinal injuries, represent some of the most demanding challenges in contemporary spine care. These conditions often occur in vulnerable patient populations such as the elderly, immunocompromised, or oncological patients, and frequently lead to neurological compromise, pain, instability, and functional loss. Despite substantial advances, optimal diagnostic and therapeutic strategies remain debated. Recent evidence demonstrates the integration of cutting-edge imaging, molecular microbiological diagnostics, evolution of spinal instrumentation, and adoption of minimally invasive and image-guided surgical methods. However, ongoing controversies persist regarding timing of surgery, choice of implant and surgical approach, prevention of complications, risk quantification, long-term function, and quality-of-life outcomes. A deeper understanding through multidisciplinary cooperation is needed to harmonize treatment algorithms and to tailor care to individual patient needs.

This Research Topic aims to provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic dimensions of complex spinal disorders, focusing on infection, tumor, and trauma. The goal is to explore current challenges, discuss new concepts that improve patient outcomes, and identify gaps that require collaborative investigation. Core questions include how to refine surgical indications and timing, optimize antimicrobial and adjuvant oncological regimens, enhance stabilization techniques, and define reliable outcome parameters. By uniting surgeons, infectious disease specialists, oncologists, radiologists, and rehabilitation experts, the Research Topic seeks to strengthen evidence-based and interdisciplinary approaches that advance both decision-making and patient-centered care.

To gather further insights in the continuum of spinal infection, oncological involvement, and traumatic instability, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

• Diagnostic algorithms and microbiological aspects in spondylodiscitis
• Conservative and surgical management strategies for spinal infections
• Implant-associated infections and revision techniques
• Surgical stabilization and decompression for spinal metastases
• Predicting survival and functional outcomes in tumor-related spinal disease
• Minimally invasive and open surgical strategies in spinal oncology and trauma
• Concepts of fourth column fractures and their implications for classification and stability
• Multidisciplinary management of complex spinal trauma and perioperative challenges
• Complication prevention, rehabilitation, and patient-reported outcomes in complex spine care
• Risk assessment and personalized therapeutic decision-making across infection, tumor, and trauma contexts

We encourage the submission of Original Research, Systematic Reviews, Reviews, Mini Reviews, Brief Research Reports, Methods, Perspectives, and Opinion articles contributing to a better understanding and refinement of evidence-based strategies for complex spinal disorders.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Spondylodiscitis, spinal metastases, spinal trauma, spine surgery, spinal infection, tumor surgery, surgical outcomes, interdisciplinary treatment

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.