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Submission of manuscripts

Manuscripts should be submitted online at (https://www.manuscriptmanager.net/ao).

Submit a double line spaced and line numbered Word file including tables and figures at the end of the manuscript.

Note the following points:
a. A manuscript's total word count should not exceed 3,300 (including Abstract (max. 250 words) and Introduction which typically does not exceed 300 words) but excluding title page, figure and table legends, and references). The word count (total, Abstract, Introduction) should be added on the title page. American spelling is preferred.

b. Interventional studies, i.e., clinical trials (defined by human participants being prospectively assigned to one or more health-related interventions to evaluate the effects on health outcomes) should be registered in a public trials register before the enrolment of the first participant. A data sharing plan (applies to clinical trials that begin enrolling participants from 1 January 2019) should be included, see recommendations by International Committee of Medical Journal Editors, www.icmje.org. The registration ID and the data sharing plan should be presented under the subtitle ‘Ethics, registration, data sharing plan, funding, and potential conflicts of interest’ (after subtitle 'Statistics').

c. Submitted manuscripts should follow the recommendations stated in the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals (http://www.icmje.org/). In addition, please follow the respective guidelines for different study designs:

  • For fields/clinical trials, the CONSORT guidelines (http://www.consort-statement.org/) *Please note that the CONSORT website is currently unavailable. To access the checklists via the original published paper please follow the PubMed links in the full bibliographic reference section of this web page. Or via the GoodReports website at https://www.goodreports.org/reporting-checklists/consort/
  • For observational studies, the STROBE guidelines (https://www.strobe-statement.org/)
  • For systematic reviews and meta-analysis of interventional studies, the PRISMA guidelines (http://prisma-statement.org/)
  • For health economics papers, the CHEERS guidelines 
  • For diagnostic tests papers, the STARD guidelines (https://www.equator-network.org/reporting-guidelines/stard/)
  • For original qualitative research papers, the COREQ guidelines (http://intqhc.oxfordjournals.org/content/19/6/349.long)
  • For synthesis of qualitative research papers, the ENTREQ guidelines (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23185978/)
  • For health care quality papers, the SQUIRE guidelines (http://squire-statement.org/)
  • For animal in vivo experiment papers, the ARRIVE guidelines (https://arriveguidelines.org/arrive-guidelines)
    For prediction and prognostic studies, the TRIPOD guidelines (https://www.tripod-statement.org/resources/)
  • For systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies, the MOOSE guidelines (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10789670/). Metaanalyses should preferably be based on a reasonable number of randomized clinical trials. Observational studies are most often not suited for metaanalyses because of their heterogeneity and greater risk of bias, precluding definition of validity.
  • For difficulty finding the appropriate guideline, try REPORTING CHECKLISTS FOR MEDICAL RESEARCHERS 

These and other guidelines are collated on the EQUATOR Network website (https://www.equator-network.org/). Acta Orthopaedica requires its authors to follow these reporting guidelines and to complete the respective checklists before submission. Compliance with appropriate guidelines will be considered in the evaluation of the manuscript and will contribute to the final decision on the manuscript. The checklist should be uploaded as a Supplementary file in the online system.

d. Extensive tables, complementary figures, and other explanatory material should be given as Supplementary data which will be available at the end of the article.

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