This interview is with Clinical Medicine Insights: Trauma and Intensive Medicine editorial board member Dr Michael Y. Wang. Clinical Medicine Insights: Trauma and Intensive Medicine is an open access journal published by Libertas Academica.

Editor in Chief Dr Philip Stahel has recently issued a call for papers

What is the primary focus of your research?

Neurosurgery, Spinal cord injury, Spinal trauma, Spinal surgery, Neurointensive care

What are the most exciting developments arising from current research in your area?

Neuromonitoring, Advancements in spinal fixation and vertebral column repair, Neuroregeneration, Brain machine interfaces

Who are your main collaborators? Please describe your work with them.

Mechanical engineers, Epidemiologists, Cell biologists, Orthopedic surgeons

How did you come to be working in your research area?

Following specialty training, I found the areas of greatest and fastest technological advancements were in the fields of spine surgery and neurointensive care. The pace of change in the field has been rapid, and our patients have benefitted from the effects of translational research and developments in bioengineering.

What do you think about the development of open access publishing? Have you published in an open access journal? What motivated you to do so?

This is a manifestation of the democratization and flattenning of the world in general. The proliferation of technology (the internet) now allows for the dissemination and mutual communication of information between professionals (clinicians and scientists) and patients as well. This is likely to lead to an acceleration in the development and proliferation of new, productive ideas and concepts.

What articles and/or books have you published recently?

1. P Khoueir, MH Black, PF Crookes, HS Kaufman, N Katkhouda, & MY Wang. Prospective assessment of axial back pain before and after bariatric weight reduction surgery. Spine J, 2009.

2. ADO Levi, BA Green, MY Wang, T Brindle, S Vanni, G Casella, G Elhammady, JJ Jagid. Clinical application of modest hypothermia after spinal cord injury. J Neurotrauma, 2009;:407-415.

3. DJ Hoh, BL Hoh, AP Amar, & MY Wang. Shape memory alloys: Metallurgy, biocompatibility and biomechanics for neurosurgical applications. Submitted for publication in Neurosurgery, 2009;ONS199-214.

4. SS Dhall, MY Wang, PV Mummaneni. Clinical and radiographic comparison of mini-open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion with open transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion in 42 patients with long-term follow-up. Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, 2008;9:560-565.

5. MY Wang, DG Anderson, KA Poelstra, & SC Ludwig. Minimally invasive posterior fixation for spinal deformities. Neurosurgery, 2008;63:A197-A204.

6. P Khoueir, BC Oh, & MY Wang, Delayed post-traumatic spinal deformities: Diagnosis & management. Neurosurgery, 2008;63:A117-A124.

7. DJ Hoh, JB Elder, & MY Wang. Principles of growth modulation in the treatment of scoliotic deformities. Neurosurgery, 2008;63:A211-A221.

8. MY Wang, DH Kim, KA Kim. Correction of late traumatic thoracic and thoracolumbar kyphotic spinal deformities using posteriorly placed intervertebral distraction cages. Neurosurgery, 2008;62:ONS162-172.

9. MY Wang, SC Ludwig, DG Anderson, PV Mummaneni. Percutaneous iliac screw placement: Description of a new minimally invasive technique. Neurosurgical Focus, 2008;25(2-E17):1-5.

10. DM Benglis, JD Guest, MY Wang. The clinical feasibility of minimally invasive cervical laminoplasty. Neurosurgical Focus, 2008;25(2-E3):1-4.

11. P Khoueir, DJ Hoh, & MY Wang. Use of hinged rods for controlled osteoclastic correction of a fixed cervical kyphotic deformity in ankylosing spondylitis. Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, 2008;8:579-583.

12. D Benglis, MY Wang, ADO Levi. A comprehensive review of the safety profile of bone morphogenetic proteins in spinal surgery. Neurosurgery, 2008;62:ONS423-431.

13. JB Elder, DJ Hoh, & MY Wang. Postoperative continuous paravertebral anesthetic infusion for pain control in lumbar spinal fusion surgery. Spine, 2008; 33(2): 210-218.

14. AA Khalessi, BC Oh, & MY Wang. Medical management in ankylosing spondylitis. Neurosurgical Focus, 2008; 24(1) E4.

15. AS Kanter, MY Wang, PV Mummaneni. An algorithm for the management of cervical spine fractures and deformity in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Neurosurgical Focus, 2008; 24(1) E11.

16. DJ Hoh, P Khoueir, & MY Wang. Management of cervical deformity in ankylosing spondylitis. Neurosurgical Focus, 2008; 24(1) E9.

17. DJ Hoh, CY Liu, JCT Chen, PG Pagnini, C Yu, MY Wang, MLJ Apuzzo. Chained Lightning, Part III: Emerging technology, novel therapeutic strategies, and new energy modalities for radiosurgery. Neurosurgery, 2007; 61(6):1111-1130.

18. P Khoueir & MY Wang. Posterior dynamic stabilization as a salvage procedure for lumbar facet degeneration following total disc arthroplasty. Spine Arthroplasty Society (SAS) Journal, 2007; 1(4):143-146.

19. MY Wang. Cervical crossing laminar screws: Early clinical results and complications. Neurosurgery, 2007; 61(ONS-2):ONS311-316.

20. P Khoueir, BC Oh, DJ DiRisio, MY Wang. Multilevel anterior cervical fusion using a collagen-hydroxyapatite matrix with iliac crest bone marrow aspirate: An eighteen month follow-up study. Neurosurgery, 2007; 61(5):963-971.

21. DJ Hoh, CY Liu, JCT Chen, PG Pagnini, C Yu, MY Wang, MLJ Apuzzo. Chained Lightning, Part II: Neurosurgical principles, radiosurgical technology, and the manipulation of energy beam delivery. Neurosurgery, 2007; 61(2):433-446.

22. DJ Hoh, CY Liu, PG Pagnini, C Yu, MY Wang, MLJ Apuzzo. Chained Lightning, Part I: Exploitation of energy and radiobiological principles for therapeutic purposes. Neurosurgery, 2007; 61(1):14-28.

23. BC Oh, CY Liu, MY Wang, PG Pagnini, C Yu, MLJ Apuzzo. Stereotactic radiosurgery: Adjacent tissue injury and response after high-dose single fraction radiation: Part II-Strategies for therapeutic enhancement, brain injury mitigation, and brain injury repair. Neurosurgery, 2007; 60(5):799-814.

24. M McDonald, R Cooper, MY Wang. Use of computed tomography-single-photon emission computed tomography fusion for diagnosing painful facet arthropathy. Neurosurgical Focus, 2007; 22(1): E2.

25. P Khoueir, KA Kim, & MY Wang. Classification of posterior dynamic stabilization devices. Neurosurgical Focus, 2007; 22(1):E3.

26. KA Kim, M McDonald, JHT Pik., P Khoueir, MY Wang. Dynamic interspinous spacer technology for posterior stabilization: case-control study on the safety, sagittal angulation, and pain outcome at 1-year follow-up evaluation. Neurosurgical Focus, 2007; 22(1):E7.

27. MY Wang, & SH Berven. Operative Nuances: Lumbar pedicle subtraction osteotomy. Operative Neurosurgery, 2007; 60(ONS-1):ONS140-ONS146.

28. BC Oh, PG Pagnini, MY Wang, CY Liu, PE Kim, C Yu, MLJ Apuzzo. Stereotactic radiosurgery: Adjacent tissue injury and response after high-dose single fraction radiation: Part I-Histology, imaging, and molecular events. Neurosurgery, 2007; 60(1):31-45.

29. KA Kim & MY Wang. MRI-based morphologic predictors of SPECT positive facet arthropathy in patients with axial back pain. Neurosurgery, 2006;59(1):147-156.

30. MY Wang. C2 crossing laminar screws: Cadaveric morphometric analysis. Neurosurgery, 2006;59(1):ONS84-88.

31. YD Marquez, MY Wang, CY Liu. Cellular signaling in neural stem cells: implications for restorative surgery. Neurosurgical Focus, 2005; 19(3):1-4.

32. MY Wang & ADO Levi. Minimally Invasive Lateral Mass Screw Fixation in the Cervical Spine: Initial Clinical Experience with Long-Term Follow-up. Neurosurgery, 2006;58(5):907-912.

33. SH Kitchel, MY Wang, CL Lauryssen. Techniques for aspirating bone marrow for use in spinal surgery. Neurosurgery, 2005;57(4):ONS286-289.

34. KA Kim, MY Wang, SA McNatt, G Pinsky, CY Liu, SL Giannotta, MLJ Apuzzo. Vector analysis correlating bullet trajectory to outcome after civilian through-and-through gunshot wound to the head: using imaging cues to predict fatal outcome. Neurosurgery. 2005;57(4):737-746.

35. MY Wang & CY Liu. Resorbable polylactic acid interbody spacers and vertebral autograft for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. Neurosurgery,2005;57(1):135-140.

36. MY Wang, C Leung, & A Casey. Cervical arthroplasty with the Bryan Cervical Disc. Operative Neurosurgery, 2005;56(1):58-65.

37. MC Lee, MY Wang, RG Fessler, J Liauw, D Kim. Instrumentation in patients with spinal infection. Neurosurgical Focus, 2004; 17(6).

38. C Yu, W Main, D Taylor, G Kuduvalli, MLJ Apuzzo, JR Adler, MY Wang. An anthropomorphic phantom study of the accuracy of Cyberknife spinal radiosurgery. Neurosurgery 2004; 55(5):1138-1149.

39. MY Wang, S Shah, BA Green. Clinical outcomes following cervical laminoplasty for 204 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy. Surgical Neurology 2004; 62:487-493.

40. Liu CY, MY Wang, MLJ Apuzzo. The evolution and future of minimalism in neurological surgery. Childs Nerv Sys 2004;20:783-789.

41. Liu CY, MY Wang, MLJ Apuzzo. The physics of image formation in the neuroendoscope. Childs Nerv Sys 2004;20:777-782.

42. MY Wang, DJ Hoh, SP Leary, P Griffith, JG McComb. High rates of neurological improvement following severe traumatic pediatric spinal cord injury. Spine 2004;29:1493-1497.

43. MY Wang, Samudrala S. Cadaveric morphometric analysis for atlantal lateral mass screw placement. Neurosurgery 2004;54(6):1436-1440.

44. MY Wang, KA Kim, CY Liu, P Kim, MLJ Apuzzo. Reliability of 3-D fluoroscopy for detecting pedicle violations in the thoracic and lumbar spine. Neurosurgery 2004;54(5):1138-1143.

45. DJ Hart, MY Wang, P Griffith, JG McComb. Pediatric sacral fractures. Spine 2004;29:667-670.

46. MY Wang, BA Green. Operative Nuances: Open-door cervical expansile laminoplasty. Neurosurgery 2004;54(1):119-124.

47. ML Levy, MY Wang, K Yoo, H Aryan, H Meltzer. Keyhole microsurgical fenestration of middle fossa arachnoid cysts. Neurosurgery 2003;53(5):1138-1145.

48. MY Wang, BA Green. Laminoplasty for the treatment of failed anterior cervical spine surgery. Neurosurgical Focus 2003;15(E7):1-4.

49. MY Wang, ADO Levi, E Vitarbo, BA Green. Adjacent segment degeneration: An unusual complication following cervical expansile laminoplasty. Neurosurgery 2003;53(2):770-773.

50. MY Wang, ADO Levi, BA Green. Intradural spinal arachnoid cysts in adults. Surgical Neurology 2003;60(1):49-55.

51. MY Wang, A Sherman, S Vanni, ADO Levi, BA Green. Lumbar stenosis surgery in the fourth quartile of life. Neurosurgical Focus 2003;14(2): Article 7 pp 1-4.

52. MY Wang, C Prusmack, BA Green, ADO Levi. Minimally invasive lateral mass screws for the treatment of cervical facet fracture dislocations. Neurosurgery 2003;52(2):444-448.

53. MY Wang, BA Green, E Cascarella, M Baskaya, ADO Levi, JD Guest. Minimally invasive cervical expansile laminoplasty: An initial cadaveric study. Neurosurgery 2003;52(2)370-373.

54. MY Wang, P Wallace, JP Gruen. Brain death documentation: Analysis and issues. Neurosurgery 2002;51(3):731-6.

55. MY Wang, ADO Levi, SN Shah, BA Green. Mesh reconstruction of the anterior iliac crest after bone harvesting reduces early postoperative pain following anterior cervical fusion surgery. Neurosurgery 2002;51(2):413-6.

56. MY Wang, ADO Levi. C2 ganglionectomy for medically refractory occipital neuralgia. Neurosurgical Focus 2002:12(14).

57. MY Wang, KA Kim, PM Griffith, S Summers, JG McComb, ML Levy, GH Mahour. Injuries from pediatric Falls: An analysis of 729 cases. Journal of Pediatric Surgery 2001:36(10):1528-1534.

58. MY Wang, JK Armstrong, TC Fisher, HJ Meiselman, GJ McComb, ML Levy. Pluronic surfactant polymer as a new bone hemostatic agent that does not inhibit osteogenesis. Neurosurgery 2001;49(4):962-968.

59. TL Harpold, MY Wang, JG McComb, HL MonForte, ML Levy, JF Reinisch. Maternal lung adenocarcinoma metastatic to the scalp of a fetus: case report. Pediatric Neurosurgery2001;35(1):39-42.

60. AP Amar, MY Wang, DW Larsen, GP Teitelbaum. Cervical epidural catheterization via a lumbar puncture. Neurosurgery 2001;48(5):1183-1187.

61. MY Wang, S Lavine, H Soukasian, R Tabrizi, ML Levy, S Giannotta. Primary Care Residents’ Knowledge of “Brain Attack” and Carotid Endarterectomy. Neurosurgery 2001;48(5):1109-1117.

62. MY Wang, R Tabrizi, S Giannotta. Delays in referral of patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Disease 2000;9(6):282-286.

63. MY Wang, P Griffith, J Sterling, JG McComb, M Levy. A prospective population-based study of pediatric trauma patients with mild alterations in consciousness (Glasgow Coma Score of 13-14). Neurosurgery 2000;46(5):1093-1099.

64. MY Wang, G Teitelbaum, WJ Loskota, D Eng, F Albuquerque, JP Gruen. Brachial Plexus Catheter Reservoir for the Treatment of Upper Extremity Cancer Pain. Neurosurgery 2000;46(4):1009-1012.

65. MY Wang, S Lavine, R Mimran, A Mohit, S Giannotta Carotid Stenosis in a multiethnic population. Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovasc Disease 2000;9(2):64-69.

66. MY Wang, R Mimran, S Lavine, S Giannotta. Posterior circulation aneurysms in a multi-ethnic population. Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Disease 2000; 9(1):31-35.

67. K A Kim, MY Wang, P Griffith, S Summers, M Levy. An analysis of pediatric head injury from falls. Neurosurgical Focus January 15, 2000:8(1).

68. MY Wang, M Levy, M Mittler, C Liu, S Johnston, JG McComb. A Prospective analysis of the use of octylcyanoacrylate tissue adhesive for wound closure in pediatric neurosurgery. Pediatric Neurosurgery 1999; 30:186-188.

69. MY Wang, GK Steinberg. Rapid and near-complete resolution of moyamoya vessels in a moyamoya patient treated with superficial temporal artery to middle cerebral artery bypass. Pediatric Neurosurgery 1996; 24(3):145-50.

70. EN Unemori, N Ehsani, MY Wang, S Lee, JS McGuire, EP Amento. Interleukin-1 and transforming growth factor-alpha: Synergistic stimulation of metalloproteinases, PGE-2, and proliferation in human fibroblasts. Exp Cell Res Feb 1994: 210(2): 166-71.