The purpose of Scandinavian Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Hand Surgery is to serve as an international forum for plastic surgery, hand surgery and related research. Interest is focused on original articles on basic research and clinical evaluation.

The scope of the journal comprises:

• Articles concerning operative methods and follow-up studies
• Research articles on subjects related to plastic and hand surgery
• Articles on cranio-maxillofacial surgery, including cleft lip and palate surgery
• Case studies, with brief descriptions of noteworthy patient histories

Extended issues are published occasionally, dealing with special topics such as microvascular surgery, craniofacial surgery, or burns. Supplements, usually doctoral theses, are also published.

The journal is the official organ of the Scandinavian Association of Plastic Surgery and of the Scandinavian Club of Hand Surgery. It is also the official organ of the Japanese Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. The journal is published for the Society for the Publication of Acta Chirurgica Scandinavica, founded by Professor Axel Key in 1869 and sponsored by the Key Foundation, Sweden.