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World J Clin Cases. Jul 6, 2023; 11(19): 4729-4733
Published online Jul 6, 2023. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i19.4729
Revitalizing case reports: Standardized guidelines and mentorship
Madhan Jeyaraman, Swaminathan Ramasubramanian, Naveen Jeyaraman, Arulkumar Nallakumarasamy, Shilpa Sharma
Madhan Jeyaraman, Department of Orthopaedics, ACS Medical College and Hospital, Chennai 600056, Tamil Nadu, India
Swaminathan Ramasubramanian, Department of General Medicine, Government Medical College, Omandurar Government Estate, Chennai 600018, Tamil Nadu, India
Naveen Jeyaraman, Department of Orthopaedics, Shri Sathya Sai Medical College and Research Institute, Sri Balaji Vidyapeeth, Chengalpet 603108, Tamil Nadu, India
Arulkumar Nallakumarasamy, Department of Orthopaedics, All Indian Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar 751019, Odisha, India
Shilpa Sharma, Department of Paediatric Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi 110029, India
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to writing the manuscript.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Madhan Jeyaraman, MS, PhD, Assistant Professor, Research Associate, Department of Orthopaedics, ACS Medical College and Hospital, Dr. MGR Educational and Research Institute, Chennai 600056, Tamil Nadu, India. madhanjeyaraman@gmail.com
Received: May 3, 2023
Peer-review started: May 3, 2023
First decision: May 25, 2023
Revised: May 30, 2023
Accepted: June 9, 2023
Article in press: June 9, 2023
Published online: July 6, 2023
Processing time: 56 Days and 21.6 Hours
Abstract

Despite a decrease in publication, case reports remain essential in medical literature as they offer detailed descriptions of individual patient cases and valuable insights for future management. These reports adhere to a standardized structure comprising sections such as abstract, introduction, case report, discussion, and conclusion. Obtaining informed consent and adhering to guidelines is essential. Case reports contribute to evidence-based medicine by detecting new therapies and adverse events. They also facilitate clear reporting, guideline adherence, and mentorship programs. These reports are vital for documenting rare occurrences, assisting clinicians in timely management, and communicating novel information to busy medical professionals. Following case report guidelines ensures comprehensive and standardized reporting, enhancing the acceptance and quality of case reports, and advancing medical knowledge.

Keywords: Case report; Case report guidelines; Literature; Research

Core Tip: Despite occupying a lower tier within the evidence hierarchy, case reports serve as one of the foundational element for generating hypotheses that can be explored through more rigorous research methodologies. Adherence to the case report guidelines is crucial, alongside obtaining informed consent from patients, in order to maintain ethical standards and ensure the legitimacy of the case report. To guarantee the quality and rigor of the case report, it is essential to meticulously document the details in accordance with the specific requirements set forth by the target academic journal.