WHY WRITE CASE REPORTS?
by Robert W. Ward, D.C., FAFICC, Editor, Journal of Chiropractic Education
Most persons believe that the case report is used to describe unique, or at least highly rare, clinical presentations or diagnostic entities (e.g., "prostatic hypertrophy mimicking as ingrown toenail"). This is the most common use of the case report. However, equally important is the use of the case report to describe novel management approaches to more ordinary conditions. Another aspect of why case reports are written involves the audience. Case reports are generally considered as a communication from clinicians to scientists. The pointy-headed ivory tower population doesn't get to see the interesting things that happen in clinical practice. They often rely on case reports from the field in deciding
what sorts of pilot studies to run, and those often lead to real full-scale clinical trials (the sort of research that field clinicians generally don't have the time, resource or interest to undertake).
Case reports are a vital aspect of our literature base, and more of our practitioners need to write them. Until you write up that wonderful method that works in your office, the rest of the world cannot share in its benefits.
Without publication, when you die or retire, your discoveries die with you.