The Journal includes clinical articles, case reports, literature reviews
and expert opinions.
The following guidelines need to be adhered to:
- Two cover sheets are to be submitted with each manuscript. The first
sheet must contain the title of the manuscript, the names of all authors
in the correct sequence, their academic status and affiliations.
The author responsible for receiving reprint requests or other correspondence
must furnish name, address, phone, fax and e–mail address. The second
sheet must contain only the title of the manuscript. The authors' names
and institution at which the study was done must not be named in the text.
- Articles should be the original, unpublished work of the stated
author. All materials submitted for publication are assumed to be submitted
exclusively for publication in this journal.
- Written permission from the author or copyright holder must be submitted
with previously published figures, tables or articles.
- A structured Abstract, consisting of four paragraphs with the headings:
Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions is advocated. It should
be a summary of the article without references.
The abstract should consist of a one paragraph statement less than 200
words (15–18 lines) in length, stating the main conclusions and clinical
relevance of the article.
- The body of the manuscript should have an Introduction which should
state the problem that lead to the study and the specific purpose of the
study and should state previous work on the subject, if applicable.
- The Materials and Methods section should always include the indications
for the operative procedure, when applicable, and the duration of follow–up.
- The Results section should provide a detailed report during a study.
Results obtained after less than 2 years of follow up are rarely accepted.
- The Discussion should include a review of the literature with emphasis
on previous findings that agree with those of the present study. The discussion
should also state both the strengths and weaknesses of the study.
- All manuscripts dealing with the study of human subjects must include
a statement that the subjects have given informed consent, and that an
ethical committee or similar committee has approved the study.
- Authors are solely responsible for the factual accuracy of their work.
- Illustrations, tables and graphs should be submitted as separate documents
and should be clearly identified.
- Legends for the illustrations should be typed in double spacing on
a separate page from the text.
- Tables should carry Roman numerals, I, II etc., and illustration Arabic
numbers 1, 2 etc.
- Accuracy of references is the author's responsibility and the author
is to verify the references against the original documents.
- References should be numbered consecutively in the order that they
are first mentioned in the text and listed at the end in numerical order
of appearance. Identify references in the text by Arabic numerals in superscript
after punctuation. References should not be a listing of a computerised
literature search but should have been read by the authors and have pertinence
to the manuscript.
- The titles of journals should be abbreviated according to the style
used in Index Medicus, obtainable through the website http://www.nlm.nih.gov
- The following format should be used for references:
KaplanFS,AugustCS,DalinkaMK.Bonedensitometryobservation of osteoporosis
in response to bone marrow transplantation. Clin Orthop 1993;294:73–8.
Chapter in a book
Young W. Neurophysiology of spinal cord injury. In: Errico TJ, Bauer
RD, Waugh T (eds). Spinal Trauma. Philadelphia: JB Lippincott; 1991: 377–94.
- Manuscripts in preparation, unpublisheddata (including articles submitted
but not in the press) and personal communications may not be included
in the reference listing. They may be listed in the text in parentheses
only if absolutely necessary to the contents and meaning of the article.
- Manuscripts must be submitted in an electronic version (by e–mail
or on a stiffy) in conjunction with the hard copy (paper version). The
text must be in a major word processing format such as MS Word. Pages
should be numbered consecutively in the following order wherever possible:
Title page, abstract, introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion,
acknowledgements, tables and illustrations, references.
- The illustrations should not be imbedded in the text file, but should
be provided as separate individual graphic files. If photographs are submitted,
two sets of unmounted high quality black and white glossy prints should
accompany the paper. Remove all markings, such as patient identification,
from radiographs before photographing. All line or original drawings must
be done by a professional medical illustrator.
- Abbreviations and acronyms should be defined on first use and kept
to a minimum.
- Proofs forwarded to authors may be altered only for misprints of
factual errors. Major alterations or new material cannot be inserted at
- Review of manuscripts is evaluated by two different orthopaedists.
- The contents of published articles do not constitute the official
endorsement of the South African Orthopaedic Association. The same applies
to opinions presented in articles or any editorial or other comments or
advertisements. The appearance of advertisements in the journal is not
a warranty, endorsement or approval of the products or their safety. The
South African Orthopaedic Journal and the Publisher and the South African
Orthopaedic Association disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons
or property resulting from any ideas or products referred to in the articles
- While all advertising appears to conform to ethical medical standards,
acceptance does not imply endorsement by the South African Orthopaedic
- All correspondence must be submitted directly to the Editor–in–Chief:
Prof Prof Anton Schepers
Tel: 011 726 4459, E–mail: firstname.lastname@example.org or Henriette.Strydom@vodamail.co.za
- Any queries may be directed to the Managing Editor:
Ms Pat Botes, Tel: (011)706–6934, Fax: (011) 706–6934, E–mail: email@example.com
P.O. Box 98068, Sloane Park, 2152
- Contributors are please to observe the following: No benefits of
any form are to be received from a commercial party related directly or
indirectly to the subject of any article. It is the policy of the Editorial
Board that this principle should be adhered to. At the end of each article
the author is to state which of the two possibilities applies: No benefits
of any form have been received from a commercial party related directly
or indirectly to the subject of this article. OR The following benefits
have been received have been received from a commercial party: (please
- While every effort is made to ensure accurate reproduction, the authors,
editor, editorial board, advisors, publishers and their employees or agents
shall not be responsible, or in any way liable for errors, omissions or
inaccuracies in the publication.