A letter to our readers:
The Journal has received a notice from Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, Massachusetts, concerning research conducted by Scott S. Reuben, MD. The notice we received states in part:
"Baystate Medical Center (‘BMC’) conducted an investigation pursuant to the Baystate Health Policy on Misconduct in Research and Scholarly Activities (the ‘Policy’). Dr. Reuben cooperated fully in this investigation. BMC's investigation determined that Dr. Reuben fabricated data reported in the referenced article and that all fabricated data were created under the sole control of Dr. Reuben."
The manuscript in question is: Reuben SS, Ekman EF: The effect of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibition on analgesia and spinal fusion. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2005;87:536-42.
In addition, the peer-review process at Baystate Medical Center identified eighteen additional articles published in the peer-reviewed literature that contain unverifiable data. Regrettably, seven of those articles were cited in a 2007 JBJS Current Concepts Review also authored by Dr. Reuben. We have carefully evaluated that Current Concepts Review and have come to the conclusion that it is substantially corrupted because it contains many definitive and conclusive statements that are substantiated only by articles known to contain unverifiable data.
The Current Concepts Review in question is: Reuben SS, Buvanendran A: Preventing the development of chronic pain after orthopaedic surgery with preventive multimodal analgesic techniques. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007;89:1343-58.
As a result of these findings, these two manuscripts have been officially retracted by The Journal. The official notice will appear in print in the April 2009 issue of JBJS.
Respectfully submitted,
James D. Heckman, MD
Editor-in-Chief