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Aims & Scope

WJO provides professionals in orthopaedics with up-to-date information on surgery, innovative techniques for correcting orthopaedic-related injuries, and evidence-based research to enhance the quality of life for patients.

The submission deadline for WJO is November 20 every year. Manuscripts submitted afterward will be considered for the following year's volume. Please review the elines">Author Guidelines for submission details. Questions may be directed to WJO@salud.unm.edu.

Contributions from anywhere in the world are welcome and considered on their merits. Manuscripts must be written in English and submitted according to the Author Guidelines.

History

In 2012, WJO was established as The University of New Mexico Orthopaedics Research Journal to showcase exceptional research from the University of New Mexico Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation.

In 2017, WJO adopted a formal external double-blind peer review process. In 2020, the journal published its first volume under the name Western Journal of Orthopaedics.

General Formatting

Title Pages and Blinded Manuscripts must be submitted as Microsoft Word documents. WJO follows the style and format of the AMA Manual of Style (10th ed.).

  • Times New Roman, 12-point font
  • 1-inch margins
  • Continuous line numbering
  • Continuous page numbering in the upper-right corner
  • Double-spaced text
  • Spell out numbers less than 10 except measurements
  • Use no more than 2 significant digits (e.g., P = 0.05, P < 0.01)
  • SI metric units required

Title Page

Include:

  • Article title
  • Authors' names in preferred publication order
  • Highest academic degrees
  • Institutional affiliations
  • Any updated affiliations since the study period
  • Corresponding author contact information
  • Funding statement
  • Conflict of interest statement
  • Patient consent statement (for case reports) or IRB approval number
  • Acknowledgments (if applicable)

Blinded Manuscript

Word limits (excluding abstract, references, tables, and figure legends):

  • Reviews: ≤ 3200 words
  • Scientific Articles, Pilot Studies, Education Articles: ≤ 2500 words
  • Case Reports, Technical Notes, New Technology: ≤ 1200 words
  • Reflections: ≤ 1000 words

All papers (except reflections) must include:

  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Discussion or Conclusion
  • References
  • Figure Legends (if applicable)

Additional required sections vary by manuscript type:

  • Scientific and Education Articles: Methods, Results
  • Reviews and New Technology: Conclusion
  • New Technology: Design
  • Case Reports: Case Report
  • Pilot Studies: Progress and Future Goals
  • Technical Notes: Technique

Abstract

  • Scientific Articles: ≤ 250 words, structured as Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions
  • Case Reports, Technical Notes, New Technology, Pilot Studies: ≤ 150 words, unstructured
  • Reviews: ≤ 250 words, unstructured

Provide 3 to 5 MeSH keywords at the end of the abstract.

References

References should:

  • Appear in order of citation
  • Use superscript numbering in text
  • Follow AMA Manual of Style (10th ed.) formatting
  • Be cited in the manuscript and vice versa

Tables and Figures

  • Create each table as a separate Microsoft Word document using the table function.
  • Number all tables and provide descriptive titles.
  • Add explanatory footnotes as needed.
  • Submit figures separately at 300 DPI in EPS, TIFF, PPT, or JPEG format.
  • Provide figure legends on the final page of the Blinded Manuscript.
  • Include markers within figures when describing specific features.
  • Obtain permissions for previously published images.
  • All figures and tables must be cited in the manuscript text.

Rights and Permissions

Authors must obtain permission to reproduce or adapt any previously published tables, figures, or text. Permission is required even when reusing the author's own previously published material if copyright is held by another party.

Peer Review and Acceptance

All submissions are initially reviewed by the Co-Editors for scientific quality, relevance, and importance. Manuscripts outside the journal's scope or lacking sufficient priority may be rejected without external review.

Eligible manuscripts undergo double-blind peer review by two to three external reviewers and one Co-Editor. Authors are commonly asked to revise manuscripts based on reviewer feedback prior to a final editorial decision.

WJO maintains confidentiality throughout the review process. Reviewer and author identities remain anonymous.

Funding

Authors should disclose all funding sources in the manuscript's Funding section and are responsible for accuracy of funder information.

Authorship

WJO follows the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) criteria for authorship. Authors must satisfy all of the following:

  1. Substantial contributions to the conception, design, acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data.
  2. Drafting or critically revising the manuscript.
  3. Final approval of the version to be published.
  4. Accountability for all aspects of the work.

Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

The journal investigates allegations of plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, duplicate publication, and other forms of scientific misconduct.

WJO follows the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) Core Practices and the University of New Mexico Research Misconduct Protocol.

Duties of the Editorial Board

A. Publication Decisions

The editorial board oversees peer review and publication decisions based on scientific merit, relevance, reviewer feedback, and publication ethics requirements.

B. Fair Play

Manuscripts are evaluated solely on scholarly merit without discrimination.

C. Confidentiality

Editors will maintain confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts.

D. Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Editors must recuse themselves from manuscripts where conflicts of interest exist.

E. Cooperation and Participation in Investigations

Ethical concerns will be investigated and may result in rejection, correction, or retraction.

F. Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The editorial board ensures that disclosed AI usage does not compromise the scientific integrity of published work.

Duties of Authors

A. Reporting Standards

Authors must provide accurate accounts of their work and sufficient detail to permit replication.

B. Data Access and Retention

Authors may be required to provide supporting data for review and verification.

C. Plagiarism and Originality

Only original work should be submitted. Proper citation and attribution are required.

D. Duplicate, Redundant, or Concurrent Publishing

Simultaneous or duplicate publication of substantially similar work is prohibited.

E. Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

Authors must disclose financial and nonfinancial conflicts of interest.

F. Authorship of the Manuscript

All listed authors must have made substantial contributions and approved the final manuscript.

G. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Authorship

Authors must fully disclose any use of AI in analysis, writing, or content generation.

H. Acknowledgement of Sources

Appropriate citation and acknowledgment of all source materials are required.

I. Fundamental Errors in Publishing

Authors must promptly notify the journal of significant errors discovered after publication.

J. Human or Animal Subjects

Research involving human or animal subjects must comply with applicable regulations and ethical requirements.

K. Peer Review

Authors must cooperate fully during peer review and respond promptly to editorial requests.

Duties of Reviewers

A. Contribution to Editorial Decisions

Reviewers assist editors in evaluating manuscripts and making publication decisions.

B. Promptness

Reviewers unable to complete reviews promptly should decline review invitations.

C. Confidentiality

All manuscripts under review must be treated as confidential documents.

D. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Reviewers must disclose conflicts of interest and recuse themselves when appropriate.

E. Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Reviewers may not use AI tools during peer review because doing so could compromise confidentiality and integrity.

Duties of the Publisher

A. Handling of Unethical Behavior

Starline Printing and the editorial board will investigate and address unethical publication practices.

B. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Publication

Starline Printing supports publication of original scholarly work and reports inappropriate AI-generated content.

C. Access to Journal Content

Starline Printing provides access to the scholarly work published in the Western Journal of Orthopaedics through production and distribution of printed journal volumes.

We welcome all relevant orthopaedic and engineering submissions. We encourage manuscripts from faculty, fellows, residents, alumni, and colleagues. Thank you for considering Western Journal of Orthopaedics as an avenue to feature your research.