Anniversary Editorial

With this issue, the Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery enters its 21st year of publication. It is amazing that our enthusiasm continues to rise. However, ongoing advances in such areas as peripheral-nerve regeneration, perforator flaps, and new techniques in microneurovascular surgery, as well as the latest basic science research evident in the abstracts submitted to our three supporting societies-the American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, and American Society for the Peripheral Nerve-have managed to keep our spirits high. We thank the societies for encouraging their members to submit the very best of their presented abstracts to us in the form of completed journal articles for consideration by our editorial staff.

As many developments of interest to our specialty have been adopted by a variety of other specialties, we also continue our original dedication to foster cooperation between the bench sciences and important clinical applications, as well as new technical innovations and ideas, surgical anatomy as it applies to our area of interest, and clinical and basic science historical reviews. For these directions, and for the paths that the Journal will take in the future, we depend on the subjects of our continually increasing number of submissions, the state-of-the-art depicted in the sets of society abstracts we publish annually, and the indicated strong interests of our reviewers, readers, and authors. In particular, we appreciate the dedication of our reviewers, whose extensive comments and discussions in their areas of expertise serve as valuable teaching devices for our readership.

My thanks and appreciation go to everyone who has played a part a in our ongoing success. I continue to encourage the sharing of ideas and opinions about improvement and excellence of publication from our readers, editorial staff, and supporting socities. A happy and healthy 21st birthday to us all!.