Publication Ethics Policy

The Archives of Clinical and Experimental Orthopaedics (ACEO) upholds rigorous ethical standards in research and publishing. The journal adheres to the ethical guidelines defined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

“Ethical publication is not a constraint — it is the foundation that gives credibility to science.”

Principles of Ethical Publishing

• Honesty and transparency in data reporting.
• Fairness and confidentiality during peer review.
• Accountability and responsibility among all contributors.
• Respect for human and animal research subjects.

Ethical Obligations of Authors

Authors are required to follow ethical standards in research, authorship, and reporting. The following practices are mandatory:

• Manuscripts must be original and not under simultaneous review elsewhere.
• Proper citation of all sources and previously published materials.
• Disclosure of funding sources and conflicts of interest.
• Listing only qualified individuals who contributed significantly as co-authors.
• Obtaining IRB or Ethics Committee approval for clinical and animal studies.

Editorial and Reviewer Ethics

The editorial board and reviewers are expected to uphold impartiality, confidentiality, and objectivity:

• Editors must make unbiased decisions based on scientific merit.
• Reviewers should not use manuscript information for personal gain.
• All participants must declare potential conflicts of interest before involvement.

Research Integrity

ACEO strictly prohibits fabrication, falsification, or manipulation of research data. Authors must retain raw data and make it available upon request during the review or verification process.

Data that cannot be shared publicly (e.g., patient information) must be accompanied by an explanatory data availability statement.

Plagiarism and Redundant Publication

All manuscripts are screened through iThenticate or equivalent software to detect plagiarism or duplicate publication. Similarity reports exceeding acceptable thresholds are returned to authors for revision or rejected outright.

Image and Figure Integrity

Image manipulation that misrepresents data or results is unethical. Acceptable adjustments include cropping and brightness/contrast enhancement applied uniformly. Manipulated images detected post-publication may result in retraction.

Conflict of Interest Policy

Transparency regarding potential conflicts of interest (COI) is mandatory. Authors must disclose:

• Funding sources or financial support.
• Personal, academic, or institutional relationships.
• Patent ownership or consultancy roles.

Editors and reviewers must also declare COIs and, when necessary, recuse themselves from handling or reviewing manuscripts.

Human and Animal Rights

All studies involving humans or animals must comply with recognized ethical frameworks:

• Human research must align with the Declaration of Helsinki.
• Animal research must adhere to ARRIVE Guidelines.
• Written informed consent is mandatory for human subjects.

Corrections, Retractions, and Expressions of Concern

When ethical issues are discovered post-publication, ACEO takes corrective actions based on COPE’s flowcharts:

Data Fabrication and Falsification

Deliberate falsification of data, results, or references constitutes research misconduct. Confirmed cases lead to manuscript rejection, author blacklisting, and notification of affiliated institutions or funding agencies.

Editorial Responsibility and Transparency

• Editors must uphold confidentiality during manuscript handling.
• Editorial decisions are based on peer review quality and ethical compliance.
• Review records are archived securely for at least five years for audit purposes.

Ethics Committee Oversight

An independent Ethics and Compliance Committee supervises the implementation of this policy, investigates reported cases, and ensures adherence to COPE’s best practices.

AI and Automated Content Disclosure

Authors must disclose the use of AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Grammarly, Copilot) during manuscript preparation. Failure to disclose AI assistance that impacts authorship or originality is considered unethical.

Appeals and Complaints

Authors can appeal publication decisions or raise ethical concerns by writing to [email protected]. Appeals are reviewed by a neutral ethics panel within 30 days.

Ethical Compliance in Editorial Workflow

• Manuscripts undergo COPE-aligned checks before acceptance.
• Editorial staff receive annual training on ethical publishing.
• Transparent COPE and ICMJE badges are displayed on the website.

Conclusion

The Publication Ethics Policy of ACEO reflects its unwavering dedication to ethical publishing, transparency, and the responsible dissemination of orthopaedic research. The policy ensures that every article published upholds the integrity of medical science and the trust of the global academic community.