Journal of Wrist Surgery in 2021

In the first editorial of 2020, I reported statics pertaining to the Journal of 2019. Submission numbers were 136 in 2016, 122 in 2017, 122 in 2018, 115 in 2019, and in 2020, we have as many as164 submissions at present. Despite the scourge of COVID-19 raging across the world, we successfully received many submissions. Since 2019, the Journal published six issues a year. Compared to 2012, we have 6 times the space for original articles in the Journal. In 2020, we published six special reviews (editor's picked article or invited article), 48 scientific articles, 14 case reports, 5 procedure articles, 1 wrist and carpal anatomy article, 7 survey or meta-analysis articles; in total, 81 articles were published. Still, we have a higher acceptance ratio close to 65%. This is due to the effort of reviewers to refine the submitted articles through a review process as well as the increase of high-quality articles submitted. Since the space for publication is limited, and an increase in manuscript submissions, there is a lesser acceptance ratio. This entails considerable efforts on the part of reviewers to review those papers. I sincerely thank all reviewers for their continuous efforts.

In the reviewing process, I, as the Editor-in-Chief, have asked all reviewers to improve the submitted manuscripts to their highest quality standards, in order to make the content of the manuscript adequately acceptable for publication. I always read the submitted manuscripts before sending them out to the reviewers for review. This may sometimes lead to a lengthier review process, and I apologize for the subsequent delay.

In my understanding, the major role of the scientific paper is (1) to reveal new scientific fact to answer the long-lasting basic and clinical questions, (2) to be useful for clinical practice, and (3) to convey authors' message to readers. We must use the widely used English language in articles; moreover, it should be easy to read and comprehend, in order to perform the essential role of the article. When the manuscript was not written in the Journal style, especially with regard to issues such as inconsistent reference style, single spacing, inadequate numbering of lines on the left side, low quality of the figures, ineffective use of tables and illegible English, it was quite difficult for the reviewer to read and evaluate the content of the manuscript. If the manuscript is framed in poor English, it should be sent back to the authors before the reviewing process. Again I would like to ask the authors, especially non-English speaking people, please ask your native English speakers nearby or the English editing company to polish your English in your manuscript. The journal also requests authors' level of expertise in all clinical studies in 2021.

In this issue, the “special review” is “Arthroscopic assisted reconstruction of LT ligament. A new technique” by Haugstvedt et al. Treatment of lunotriquetral (LT) ligament rupture is controversial and authors described their arthroscopic techniques for LT ligament reconstruction. Interesting wrist papers such as treatment of unstable scaphoid delayed or nonunions with cavitary bone loss, radial shortening for Kienböck disease, scaphoid fracture, distal radius treatment, rare condition of triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFCC) lesions, survey and meta-analysis, emerging technology paper, and interesting case reports are also included in this issue. Don't miss it.

Publication History

Article published online:
01 February 2021

• Reference

• 1 Nakamura T. Journal of Wrist Surgery in 2020. J Wrist Surg 2020; 9: 1