Information for Authors

Before submitting a manuscript, authors are strongly advised to review the journal’s policies to ensure compliance with its guidelines.

Manuscripts can only be submitted through the journal’s online manuscript submission and evaluation system. Submissions made through any other medium or by individuals other than the authors will not be considered for evaluation.

Along with the manuscript files, authors are required to submit the following documents during the initial submission:

  • Copyright Agreement and Acknowledgement of Authorship Form

  • ICMJE Disclosure Form (to be completed by all contributing authors)

  • Title Page Form

ICMJE Recommendations

Authors should adhere to the ICMJE Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals (updated May 2023).

Guidelines for Specific Study Types

Authors must prepare their manuscripts in accordance with the relevant reporting guideline:

To identify the most suitable guideline for your research, complete the Equator Network questionnaire.

The journal also encourages authors to follow the ‘Sex and Gender Equity in Research – SAGER – guidelines’ to promote inclusivity in research.

Preparation of the Manuscript

Title Page

A separate title page should be submitted with all submissions, and this page should include:

  • Full title of the manuscript, along with a short title (running head) of no more than 50 characters.

  • Full names of authors directly affiliated with the work. The maximum number of authors is eight for original articles, five for case reports and “How to Do It” articles, three for interesting images, and correspondence. Exceeding numbers must be justified to the Editor.

  • Name(s), affiliations, highest academic degree(s), and ORCID IDs of the author(s).

  • Grant information and details of other sources of support.

  • Contact details for the corresponding author (name, address, telephone, and email address).

  • Acknowledgment of individuals who contributed to the preparation of the manuscript but do not fulfill the authorship criteria.

ORCID ID

The ORCID ID number of each author must be submitted when creating an account for correspondence. To obtain an ORCID number, please visit ORCID.

Abstract

An abstract is required with all submissions except for Letters to the Editor. The abstract for Original Articles should be structured with subheadings:

  • Aim

  • Materials and Methods

  • Results

  • Conclusion Please check Table 1 for word count specifications.

Keywords

Each submission must include a minimum of three to a maximum of six keywords for subject indexing at the end of the abstract. The keywords should be separated by a semicolon (;) and selected from the National Library of Medicine, Medical Subject Headings database (NLM MeSH Browser).

Main Points

All submissions, except letters to the editor, should be accompanied by 3 to 5 "main points." These main points should highlight the most important results of the study and emphasize the key message of the manuscript. The main points should be structured as a list and written in a clear, concise, and straightforward manner.

MANUSCRIPT TYPES

Original Articles: These articles provide new information based on original research. The main text should include the following subheadings:

Introduction:
This section provides the background information relevant to the study. It should include details about the topic, referencing previous studies in the field, and linking them to the aim and importance of the current study. The objective of the study should be clearly stated at the end of the "Introduction" section.

Materials and Methods:
This section should describe the materials and methods used in the study, including any analyses conducted and statistical methods applied. Methods that are well-established and previously published may be briefly outlined with appropriate references.

Results:
The results should be presented clearly and concisely, focusing on the data obtained from the study. This section should not include results from other studies. Repetition of tables and figures should be avoided; instead, the key points should be emphasized. Any statistical evaluations of the results should be included.

Discussion:
In this section, the results of the study are evaluated, compared with prior research, and interpreted. The discussion may also include conclusions drawn from the study's findings. The "Results" and "Discussion" sections can be combined, if preferred. In review articles, instead of a discussion section, a "Conclusion" section should follow the introduction, where interpretations related to the case are provided.

Conclusion:
This section provides a brief summary of the study's conclusions.

Acknowledgements:
Authors may use this section to acknowledge individuals or institutions that supported the research or contributed in other significant ways.

Ethics Committee Approval:
Authors must include the date and approval number received from the ethics committee. If the study does not require ethics committee approval, authors should explain why (e.g., "Our study did not involve invasive procedures on animals, so ethics committee approval was not necessary.").

Author Contributions:
Corresponding authors are required to provide a breakdown of the co-author contributions to the manuscript, using the relevant CRediT roles. These roles include: Conceptualization; Data curation; Formal analysis; Funding acquisition; Investigation; Methodology; Project administration; Resources; Software; Supervision; Validation; Visualization; Roles/Writing - original draft; and Writing - review & editing. Note that not all roles may apply to every manuscript, and authors may contribute in multiple roles.

Declaration of Interests:
All authors must disclose any financial or personal relationships with individuals or organizations that could potentially influence (or bias) their work.

Funding:
Authors should provide information about the funding sources for the study.

"What is already known on this topic?" and "What does this study add on this topic?"
All submissions, except letters to the editor, should include 1 to 3 points addressing the questions:

  1. What is already known on this topic?

  2. What does this study add on this topic?
    These points should highlight the most important results and the main message of the manuscript while also answering the questions posed. It helps ensure that the key findings and messages are clearly conveyed to the reader. These points should be presented in a list format, written clearly and in plain language to ensure they are easily understood by experts and specialists in the field.

Reporting Statistical Analysis

Statistical analysis is generally required to support the results of a study. All statistical analyses must adhere to international statistical reporting standards (Altman DG, Gore SM, Gardner MJ, Pocock SJ. Statistical guidelines for contributors to medical journals. Br Med J 1983: 7; 1489-93). Details of the statistical analyses should be provided under a separate subheading in the Materials and Methods section, and the statistical software used should be specified.

When reporting statistical data, it is crucial to present values clearly and consistently. P values, confidence intervals (CIs), and other statistical measures should be rounded appropriately and expressed according to the following guidelines:

  • P values should be expressed to two digits after the decimal point unless the first two digits are zeros, in which case three digits should be provided (e.g., instead of P < .01, report as P = .002).

  • P values close to .05 may be reported to three decimal places, as .05 is an arbitrary cut-off point for statistical significance (e.g., P = .053).

  • P values less than .001 should be written as P < .001, rather than providing the exact value (e.g., P = .000006).

Units should be reported in accordance with the International System of Units (SI).

Invited Review Articles: Invited review articles are welcomed from authors with extensive knowledge and expertise in a particular field and a strong track record of publication. These articles should provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge on a topic within medicine, including discussions and evaluations of relevant research.

The authors can determine the subheadings of the review articles. However, each review article must include an "Introduction" and a "Conclusion" section. Please refer to Table 1 for the limitations regarding Review Articles.

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis: In the Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis category, we welcome submissions that rigorously synthesize and analyze existing research in specific fields. Authors are encouraged to adopt a structured approach to collect, assess, and systematically examine relevant studies, offering a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge. These articles often include meta-analyses, where quantitative data from multiple studies are statistically combined to provide meaningful insights. Such contributions play a crucial role in evidence-based decision-making and help deepen understanding of complex subjects by providing a consolidated perspective on a specific research topic.

Manuscripts in this category should be structured with the following subheadings: Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusion.

Case Reports: The journal has limited space for case reports and prioritizes publishing those that focus on rare cases or challenging conditions that provide new insights into diagnosis and treatment, offer novel therapies, or present knowledge not yet covered in the literature. Interesting and educational case reports are also welcomed for publication.

The text of a case report should include the following subheadings: Introduction, Case Presentation, and Discussion. An unstructured abstract should also be included.

Letters to the Editor: A "Letter to the Editor" is a type of manuscript that addresses important or overlooked aspects of a previously published article. It may also present articles on subjects within the scope of the journal that are of interest to readers, particularly educational cases. Additionally, readers can use the "Letter to the Editor" format to share their comments on published manuscripts.

The text of a "Letter to the Editor" should be unstructured and must not include an abstract, keywords, tables, figures, images, or other media. The manuscript being commented on must be properly cited within the "Letter to the Editor."

Image of the Month: The journal accepts original, high-quality images and videos related to cases encountered in clinical practice that emphasize the importance or rarity of the topic, showcase exceptional visual quality, and present crucial information that should be shared on academic platforms. Titles for the images should not exceed 10 words. A maximum of five authors can sign the images, and figure legends are limited to 250 words. The number of images is limited to four (or three images and one video). For videos, the format must be MP4.

Editorial Comments: Invited editorial comments on selected articles are published in the journal to provide expert insight and critical analysis of the research presented. These comments are written by authors who have established expertise or a high reputation in the topic of the article. The journal carefully selects and invites these authors to contribute. Editorial comments should not exceed 1000 words and should not include an abstract, keywords, tables, figures, images, or other media.

Video Article: A "Video Article" presents a clinical case or new/advanced surgical techniques via a video. The video should be between 5-8 minutes in duration and accompanied by a structured abstract that includes sections on the objective, methods, results, and conclusion. The video should have narration and may include graphs and images to clarify the key points and results. The video should not contain music. Accepted formats include .wmv, .mov, or .mp4.

Technical Note: A Technical Note is a concise description of a technique, procedure, modification of a method, or new equipment relevant to orthopedics, traumatology, and related fields. It should begin with a brief introduction, followed by a "Technique" section for case reports or a "Methods" section for case series. The "Discussion" section should focus on the specific message of the technical note, highlighting the uses and benefits of the technique, equipment, or software. Literature reviews and detailed case descriptions are not appropriate. The main text should be limited to 1500 words, and the number of references should not exceed 15.

Short Communications: Short Communications are concise, focused articles that present new scientific research or theories. These articles should follow the same structure as a full-length original research paper, including sections for Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, and Discussion. The total length of the article should not exceed 2500 words, with a 150-word abstract and a maximum of 3 display items (figures/tables). Please refer to Table 1 for the limitations for “Short Communications.”

Table 1. Limitations for each manuscript type

Type of manuscript

Word limit*

Abstract word limit

Reference limit

Table limit

 Figure limit

Research Article

4000

150-300 (Structured)

40

6

5 or total of 10 images

Review Article

5000

150-300

50

6

10 or total of 15 images

Case Report

1200

100-150

15

No table

4 or total of 8 images

Letter to the Editor

400

No abstract

5

No table

No media

Image of the Month

250

No abstract

2

No table

Up to 4 images or
Up to 3 images and 1 video

Editorial Comments

1000

No abstract

N/A

No table

No media

Video Article

600

No abstract

4

4

4 short videos

Technical Note

1500

200

15

1

2 or total of 4 images

Short Communications

2500

150

35

3

3 or total of 6 images

Tables

  • Tables should be included in the main document, after the reference list, and numbered consecutively in the order in which they are referred to in the text.

  • Each table should have a descriptive title placed above it, and any abbreviations used in the table should be defined below the table in footnotes (even if they are defined in the main text).

  • Tables should be created using the "insert table" command in Word processing software, arranged clearly to ensure the data is easy to read and understand.

  • The data presented in the tables should not simply repeat the data in the main text but should support and enhance it.

Figures and Figure Legends

Figures must be submitted as separate files in either TIFF or JPEG format and should not be embedded within the Word document or main manuscript file. If a figure contains subunits, each subunit should be submitted as an individual file, rather than merging them into a single image. Labels such as (a), (b), or (c) should not appear within the figure itself; instead, use the figure legend to describe the different parts. Markings such as arrows, arrowheads, stars, asterisks, or similar symbols may be used to enhance the figure legends. Any identifiable information in images should be anonymized. Each figure must have a minimum resolution of 300 DPI, ensuring clarity and readability. Figure legends should be placed at the end of the manuscript, and figures should be referenced within the main text, numbered consecutively based on their first mention.

Abbreviations

  • All acronyms and abbreviations used in the manuscript should be defined at first use, both in the abstract and in the main text.

  • The abbreviation should be placed in parentheses following the definition and should be used consistently throughout the manuscript.

Identifying Products

  • When mentioning a drug, product, hardware, or software in the manuscript, provide detailed information in parentheses, including the product name, producer, city, and country of the company.

    • Example: Discovery St PET/CT scanner (General Electric, Milwaukee, WI, USA).

Supplementary Materials

  • Supplementary materials, including audio files, videos, datasets, and additional documents (such as appendices, extra figures, tables), should be submitted as a separate section after the reference list.

  • Concise descriptions of each supplementary material should be included to explain its relevance to the manuscript.

  • Page numbers are not required for supplementary materials.

REFERENCES

Both in-text citations and the reference list must follow the Vancouver style. The references are numbered sequentially, following the order in which they first appear in the text. In the text, numbers are used in parentheses. The citations are numbered and the reference list is arranged in the same order.

When citing publications, give preference to the latest, most up-to-date sources to reflect current knowledge and ensure the paper's relevance.

The authors are responsible for ensuring the accuracy of their references. All sources must be properly cited and formatted.

For ahead-of-print articles, include the DOI number in the reference list.

Journal titles should be abbreviated according to Index Medicus/MEDLINE/PubMed standards.

Cite journal articles, books, webpages, conference presentations, newspapers, and theses as appropriate.

If a source has six or fewer authors, list all authors. If there are seven or more authors, list the first three authors followed by "et al." in the reference list.

Examples:

  1. Journal Article:
    Format: Author(s). Title of article. Journal Name. Year; Volume(Issue): Page numbers. DOI (if available).
    Example: Smith J, Jones M. Advances in medical research. Med J Res. 2024;45(3):123-130. doi:10.1000/mjr.2024.45.3.123.
  2. Book:
    Format: Author(s). Title of book. Edition (if applicable). Place of publication: Publisher; Year.
    Example: Brown P, Green T. Clinical Medicine: A Comprehensive Guide. 2nd ed. New York: Health Press; 2022.
  3. Webpage:
    Format: Author(s) or Organization. Title of webpage. Name of website. Year. Available from: URL. Accessed [date].
    Example: World Health Organization. COVID-19 information. World Health Organization. 2023. Available from: https://www.who.int/covid19. Accessed 2025 Feb 13.
  4. Conference Presentation:
    Format: Author(s). Title of presentation. Title of Conference. Location; Year [cited Year Month Day]. Available from: URL (if available).
    Example: Jackson R, White S. The future of healthcare. International Medical Conference. Paris; 2023 Oct [cited 2024 Jan 10].
  5. Newspaper Article:
    Format: Author(s). Title of article. Newspaper Name. Year Month Day; Section: Page numbers.
    Example: Clark L. New treatments for cancer show promise. The Health Times. 2024 Jan 15; A1.
  6. Thesis:
    Format: Author(s). Title of thesis. [type of thesis]. Place of publication: University; Year.
    Example: Taylor S. The impact of diet on cardiovascular health. [master’s thesis]. Boston: Harvard University; 2023.

PRODUCTION

Once a manuscript is accepted for publication, it is promptly assigned a DOI number. The manuscript then proceeds to the next stage, where it is published online as an ahead-of-print article on the journal's website, prior to its inclusion in a scheduled issue. A PDF proof of the accepted manuscript is sent to the corresponding author, who is asked to review and approve the publication before it is finalized.