Author Guidelines

The Archives of Clinical and Experimental Orthopaedics (ACEO) welcomes submissions that advance the field of clinical, experimental, and translational orthopaedic research. The following author guidelines are designed to ensure ethical, high-quality, and reproducible scholarly communication. Authors are expected to comply with the standards outlined by COPE, ICMJE, and WAME.

“Quality scientific writing begins with clarity, structure, and ethical transparency.”

1. Manuscript Types Accepted

ACEO publishes the following categories of manuscripts:

• Original Research Articles
• Review Articles and Systematic Reviews
• Case Reports and Clinical Images
• Short Communications
• Letters to the Editor
• Editorials and Commentaries
• Technical Notes and Methods Papers

2. General Submission Requirements

• All manuscripts must be submitted online through the submission portal.
• Authors should ensure the manuscript has not been published elsewhere or is under review at another journal.
• All co-authors must approve the final version prior to submission.
• Manuscripts must be written in clear, grammatically correct English (UK or US style).

3. Manuscript Structure

For standard research articles, the structure should follow the IMRaD format:

• Title Page: Full title, author names, affiliations, corresponding author contact, and ORCID ID.
• Abstract: 250–300 words structured into Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusion.
• Keywords: 4–6 keywords indexed in MeSH or PubMed.
• Introduction: Clearly state the rationale, objectives, and background context.
• Materials and Methods: Provide sufficient detail for replication. Include ethical approvals where applicable.
• Results: Present findings objectively, supported by figures and tables.
• Discussion: Interpret findings in light of existing literature.
• Conclusion: Summarize the major findings and implications.
• References: Must follow Vancouver or APA 7th edition style.

4. Formatting Guidelines

• Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt
• Line spacing: 1.5
• Margins: 1 inch on all sides
• Manuscript file format: Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx)
• Tables and Figures: Should be numbered consecutively and cited within the text.

5. Reference Style

Authors may choose either of the following reference formats:

6. Ethical Requirements

• All research involving humans or animals must have prior approval from an appropriate Ethics Committee.
• Authors must declare any potential conflicts of interest.
• Informed consent is mandatory for case studies and identifiable patient data.
• Plagiarism and data fabrication are strictly prohibited; submissions are screened using plagiarism detection tools.

7. Figures, Tables, and Supplementary Files

• Figures should be in high-resolution (minimum 300 dpi) formats: JPEG, PNG, or TIFF.
• Tables should be editable (not embedded as images).
• Supplementary materials (videos, datasets, protocols) may be uploaded as separate files.

8. Authorship and Contributions

ACEO follows the ICMJE authorship criteria. Each author’s contribution should be clearly stated under the “Author Contributions” section, e.g.:

• Conceptualization – Dr. A
• Data curation – Dr. B
• Writing – original draft – Dr. C
• Review & editing – Dr. D

9. Conflicts of Interest

Authors must declare all potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise, using the ICMJE disclosure form. If none exist, the statement “The authors declare no conflicts of interest” must be included.

10. Data Availability

Authors are encouraged to deposit research data in open repositories (e.g., Dryad, Figshare, Zenodo) and include the link in their manuscript.

11. Preprints and Prior Publication

Submission of manuscripts previously posted as preprints is permitted provided that authors disclose the preprint DOI and repository link at submission.

12. Copyright and License

All ACEO publications operate under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (CC BY 4.0), allowing unrestricted sharing and adaptation with proper citation of the original work.

13. Peer Review and Revision

All submissions undergo double-blind peer review. Authors will receive reviewers’ comments and must submit a detailed response document for revisions within the specified timeframe.

14. Post-Acceptance Procedures

• Proofs are sent to authors for final review before publication.
• DOI assignment and indexing occur immediately post-publication.
• Authors receive an e-certificate of publication upon release.

15. Contact Information

16. Final Checklist Before Submission

• ✔ Manuscript file prepared in .doc/.docx format
• ✔ Abstract and keywords included
• ✔ References formatted correctly
• ✔ Figures and tables submitted separately
• ✔ Ethical approval and consent documented
• ✔ All authors approved the submission

17. Conclusion

The Author Guidelines of ACEO are designed to uphold scholarly quality and ethical integrity. By adhering to these guidelines, authors contribute to a transparent and credible body of orthopaedic research accessible to a global audience.