National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria
J.OrthoPlast
Advancing Musculoskeletal and Reconstructive Care in Nigeria and Beyond
J.OrthoPlast is a peer-reviewed, bi-annual journal published by National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu (NOHE). It is dedicated to advancing clinical practice and research across the full spectrum of services offered at the hospital, including Orthopaedics and Trauma, Burns and Plastic Surgery, Anaesthesia, Radiology, Neurosurgery, Rehabilitation, and allied services. The journal publishes original research, review articles, case reports, letters to the editor, and other scholarly contributions relevant to musculoskeletal and reconstructive care in Nigeria and beyond.
Editor-in-Chief
Deputy Editor-in-Chief
Associate Editors
Editorial Board
[Full Name, Institution] — [Full Name, Institution] — [Full Name, Institution]
International Advisory Board
[Full Name, Institution/Country] — [Full Name, Institution/Country]
Editorial / Production Assistant
Volume 1, Issue 1 (January–June 2026) — sample article structure below; final titles and authors will be confirmed ahead of publication.
- Management of Open Tibial Fractures in a Nigerian Tertiary Centre: A Retrospective Review
- Burns Care in Resource-Limited Settings: Challenges and Innovations
- Anaesthetic Considerations for Orthopaedic Trauma in the Elderly
- Imaging of Musculoskeletal Tumours: A Pictorial Review
- Rehabilitation Outcomes After Major Limb Reconstruction
Manuscripts should be submitted online at [website/portal] or by email to [journal email address]. Submissions must comply with the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals (ICMJE recommendations). Article categories accepted: Review Articles, Original Manuscripts, Case Reports, and Letters to the Editor. All manuscripts undergo double-blind peer review prior to a decision on publication. Ethical approval and informed consent statements are mandatory for all human-subject research and case reports.
J.OrthoPlast operates a double-blind peer-review process and relies on the expertise of specialists across all covered disciplines. Reviewers are asked to declare any conflicts of interest before accepting an invitation, keep manuscripts and review content strictly confidential, and return structured comments within the agreed timeframe. Reviewer guidelines and a confidentiality agreement will be provided with each invitation. To be added to the reviewer panel, contact [journal email address] with your specialty and affiliation.
For full details of our editorial process, see the Peer Review Policy below.
J.OrthoPlast is committed to maintaining the highest standards of scholarly integrity through a rigorous, transparent, and impartial peer review process. All manuscripts submitted to the journal undergo double-blind peer review, ensuring that neither authors nor reviewers are aware of each other's identities. This policy applies to all article types, including Original Manuscripts, Review Articles, Case Reports, and Letters to the Editor.
1. Peer Review Model
J.OrthoPlast operates a double-blind peer review system. In this model:
- Reviewers do not know the identity of the authors.
- Authors do not know the identity of the reviewers.
This approach minimises bias related to author institution, seniority, gender, nationality, or personal relationships, and ensures that manuscripts are evaluated solely on their scientific merit.
2. Roles and Responsibilities
| Role | Responsibility |
|---|---|
| Editor-in-Chief (EiC) | Oversees the entire peer review process. Conducts initial screening of submissions. Assigns manuscripts to reviewers. Makes final decisions on acceptance, revision, or rejection. Does not personally review manuscripts to maintain impartiality. |
| Assistant Editor-in-Chief | Supports the EiC in initial screening and reviewer assignment. Coordinates communication with reviewers. Tracks review timelines and sends reminders. Does not personally review manuscripts to maintain impartiality. |
| Associate Editors / Editorial Board Members | May serve as peer reviewers for manuscripts within their area of expertise. Provide detailed, constructive, and confidential assessments. Declare any conflicts of interest before accepting a review assignment. |
3. The Peer Review Process
- Initial Screening (Desk Review)
Upon receipt, the Editor-in-Chief or Assistant Editor-in-Chief screens the manuscript for scope, compliance with Instructions to Authors, completeness, ethical requirements, and overall suitability. Identifying information is removed from the review manuscript where required for double-blind review. Manuscripts that do not pass initial screening may be returned without external review.
- Reviewer Assignment
The Editor-in-Chief or Assistant Editor-in-Chief assigns the anonymised manuscript to at least two independent reviewers selected for subject expertise. Reviewers must confirm absence of conflicts of interest, agree to confidentiality, and normally complete the review within 14–21 days.
- Conduct of the Review
Reviewers assess originality, methodological rigour, clarity, relevance, ethical compliance, and the quality of figures, tables, and references. They provide confidential comments to the editor and constructive comments to the authors, with a recommendation of accept, minor revision, major revision, or reject.
- Editorial Decision
The Editor-in-Chief considers the reviewers' reports and the manuscript as a whole before issuing a decision: Accept, Minor Revision, Major Revision, or Reject. Reviewer recommendations are advisory; the final editorial decision rests with the Editor-in-Chief.
- Revision and Re-Review
When revisions are requested, authors submit a revised manuscript and a point-by-point response to reviewer comments. Revised manuscripts may be returned to the original reviewers or assigned to new reviewers when appropriate.
- Final Decision and Production
After all substantive concerns have been addressed, accepted manuscripts enter production, including copy-editing, proofing, layout, and publication.
4. Confidentiality
All manuscripts, reviewer reports, and editorial correspondence are treated as confidential. Reviewers must not share manuscripts or review materials, use unpublished information for personal or professional advantage, or retain copies after completing the review.
5. Conflicts of Interest
Reviewers must declare any potential conflict of interest before accepting an assignment, including personal or professional relationships with authors, direct competitive interests, or financial interests that could influence their assessment. Where a significant conflict exists, the reviewer should decline the invitation.
6. Timelines
| Stage | Expected Duration |
|---|---|
| Initial screening | 3–5 days |
| Reviewer assignment | 3–5 days |
| Peer review | 14–21 days |
| Editorial decision | 5–7 days |
| Author revision | 14–30 days, depending on revision type |
| Final decision | 7–10 days |
| Production and publication | 14–21 days |
7. Ethical Standards
J.OrthoPlast is committed to recognised standards of publication ethics, including the principles and guidance of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE). Human-subject research must include appropriate ethics approval or a justified exemption, as applicable. Informed consent must be obtained and documented where required.
8. Reviewer Recognition
Reviewers who complete high-quality assessments may be acknowledged in an annual reviewer recognition list. Outstanding reviewers may be considered for future editorial responsibilities.
9. Appeals and Complaints
Authors may appeal an editorial decision within 14 days by writing to the Editor-in-Chief with a clear, evidence-based rationale addressing the reasons for the decision. Appeals are considered independently of the original decision where practicable. Complaints concerning editorial or peer-review processes will be handled confidentially and investigated in accordance with applicable publication-ethics guidance.
10. Policy Review
This policy will be reviewed periodically and updated when necessary to remain consistent with recognised standards in scholarly publishing and the requirements of relevant indexing and abstracting services.
J.OrthoPlast is currently establishing its abstracting and indexing profile. No indexing service should be represented as confirmed until formal acceptance has been received.
Confirmed services will be listed here with the relevant journal profile or database link.
Copyright & Licensing
© National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu. All rights reserved unless a different licence is formally adopted and stated on the article and journal website. Authors should receive clear information about copyright ownership and permitted reuse before publication.
Open Access
To be confirmed before publication. The journal will state whether all articles are freely available online, whether any embargo applies, and which reuse licence governs published content.
Article Processing Charges
To be confirmed before submissions open. The journal should explicitly state whether submission, peer review, publication, or article processing fees apply and identify any legitimate waivers.
Publication Ethics
J.OrthoPlast is committed to original authorship, honest reporting, transparent disclosure of conflicts of interest, responsible correction of the literature, and appropriate investigation of suspected misconduct in accordance with recognised publication-ethics guidance.
Peer-Review Process
Every submission undergoes double-blind peer review by at least two independent reviewers with relevant expertise, coordinated by the editorial team. See the full Peer Review Policy.
Authorship & Contributorship
Authorship should follow ICMJE criteria: substantial contribution to the work, drafting or critical revision, final approval of the version to be published, and accountability for all aspects of the work. Contributions should be transparently described.
Conflicts of Interest
Authors, reviewers, and editors must disclose financial, personal, professional, or other relationships that could reasonably be perceived to influence the work or editorial process.
Informed Consent & Patient Images
Written informed consent is required where appropriate for case reports, clinical images, or identifiable patient information. Authors must confirm that consent has been obtained before publication.
Plagiarism & Similarity Checking
Manuscripts may be screened for plagiarism, duplicate publication, and inappropriate text reuse. Suspected breaches will be assessed and managed according to recognised publication-ethics procedures.
Data Sharing & Availability
To be confirmed. The journal will specify its expectations for data-availability statements, data repositories, access restrictions, and protection of confidential participant information.
Corrections, Retractions & Appeals
Published errors or concerns will be addressed using an appropriate correction, expression of concern, or retraction. Authors may appeal editorial decisions through the procedure described in the Peer Review Policy.
Complaints & Misconduct
Concerns about editorial conduct, peer review, authorship, plagiarism, fabrication, falsification, or other research-integrity matters may be raised confidentially with the Editor-in-Chief and will be investigated appropriately.
Archiving & Digital Preservation
To be confirmed before launch. The journal will publish details of its long-term digital preservation arrangement, including institutional or third-party preservation where applicable.
Privacy Statement
Names, email addresses, and other contact information submitted through this website will be used for journal administration and correspondence and will not be sold or disclosed for unrelated purposes, subject to applicable law.
Accessibility Statement
This website is designed with accessibility in mind, including keyboard navigation, semantic structure, responsive presentation, and visible focus states. Report accessibility issues to [journal email address].
Submissions by Editors & Board Members
Editors and Editorial Board members may submit manuscripts to J.OrthoPlast, but must recuse themselves from every stage of handling their own submission. An independent editor and at least two independent reviewers are assigned, and the manuscript undergoes the same double-blind review as any other submission. If accepted, a conflict-of-interest statement is published with the article confirming the author-editor's non-involvement in its review or decision. Full policy available from the Editorial Office.
Website Terms of Use
To be completed before launch. The journal will publish terms governing acceptable use of the website, intellectual property, disclaimers, external links, and applicable jurisdiction.
- Editor-in-Chief
- [Name and Title]
- Address
- National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu — [Postal/Street Address], Enugu State, Nigeria
- Hospital Email
- [hospital@email.address]
- Journal Email
- [journal@email.address]
- Website
- jorthoplast-nohenugu.org.ng
- Parent Institution
- National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu ↗