Editorial Policy and general information.

„Arthroscopy and Joint Surgery” is a peer-reviewed medical journal featuring original scientific articles based on original research, as well as review and opinion articies and case studies concerned with diseases and injuries of joints the locomotor apparatus.
The subject matter of the articles published in AJS cover a wide spectrum of issues connected with orthopedics, traumatology, and arthroscopic treatment of rehabilittaion for patients with orthopedic and traumatological disorders. The Editorial Board includes specialists from many departments, countries around the world, representing various specialties, not only orthopedics and traumatology, but also rehabilitation in related medical fields, guaranteeing the high scientific level of the articles published published articles.
AJS is published six times a year. The editors accept articles in Polish and in English either or Polish or English, with summaries and key words in both languages. At the request of the first author the editors may arrange for a qualified translator at the expense of the first author (at competitive page rates).

The AJS editors endorse the principles embodied in the Helsinki Declaration and expect that all research involving humans has been performed in accordance with these principles. For animal experimentation reported in the jour-nal, it is expected that investigators will have observed the Interdisciplinary Principles and Guidelines for the Use of Animals in Research, Testing, and Education issued by the New York Academy of Sciences' Adhoc Committee on Animal Research. All human and animal studies must have been approved by the investigator's Institutional review board. A copy of the relevant documentation should be included with the manuscript.

REVIEW PROCESS
The editors will accept only those works which are acknowledged by the reviewers and the editors to be thematically appropriate works making an original contribution to progress in science and/or clinical practice, or to have educational (training) value. The signature of the first author on the letter of submission signifies that:
• the submitted manuscript is the authors' own work;
• the research results have not been published or submitted for publication elsewhere;
• all the authors named on the title page have consented to the submission of this work for publication in AJS.
Received manuscripts are first examined by the AJS editors. Manuscripts considered manifestly unsuitable for publication in AJS are returned to the author without further review. Manuscripts that are incomplete or not prepared in accordance with the Instructions for Authors (see below) will also be returned, though in such case they may be resubmitted when corrected. Once the manuscript has been registered at the Editorial Office, the first author is notified by a letter (fax or e-mail) giving the reference number for future correspondence. The registered manuscripts are sent to two qualified reviewers for scientific evaluation. The evaluation process should not take longer than 2 months, but the editors cannot guarantee an editorial decision within any established deadline.
Manuscripts are accepted unconditionally if both reviewers agree that the work can be published in its present form. If the reviewers disagree or feel that the manuscript should be accepted subject to specific corrections, the editors may decide to send the work to another reviewer or return it to the author for correction.
The ultimate decision to accept for publication, accept subject to correction, or reject a work is the prerogative of the editors and cannot be appealed. The editors are not obliged to justify their decision.
In view of the fact that all correspondence with the authors is conducted exclusively by e-mail, the first author's e-mail address is absolutely necessary

Conflict of interests
The editors of AJS expect that the authors of research articles are not financially involved in a company whose product is presented in the text, or in a competing company.
The authors of a research article should disclose at the time of submission any financial arrangement they may have with a company whose product figures prominently in the submitted manuscript. Such information will be held in confidence while the manuscript is under review and will not influence the scientific evaluation of the work, but if the article is accepted for publication, the editors will either agree with the authors how such information is to be communicated to the reader, or decide to forego such notification.
AJS policy requires that reviewers, associate editors, editors, and senior editors reveal in a letter to the Editor-in-Chief any relationships they may have that could be construed as causing a conflict of interest with regard to the author of a manuscript under review. The letter should include a statement of any financial relationships with commercial companies involved with a medical product under study.
Manuscripts submitted for publication will not be sent to a reviewer from the same home institution as the author(s).

Permissions
Materials taken from other sources must be accompanied by a written statement from the first author and the publisher of the original publication giving permission for reproduction in AJS.
Permission should be obtained in writing from at least one author of papers still in press, and from the source of any unpublished data or personal communications used in the article.

Patient confidentiality
Changing the biographical details of a patient in order to protect his/her identity is a form of data alteration and should be avoided. However, the authors of clinical papers are obliged to protect the patient's privacy rights. Only clinically or scientifically important information should be published. Therefore, if it is possible to identify a patient from the information given in the article, the authors must obtain the written consent of the patient or his/her guardian to publish his/her data, including photographs, radiological images, etc., prior to submission. Details regarding the race, ethnicity, cultural background or religion of any person involved in the study should be disclosed only when in the author's considered opinion such details have a bearing on the course of the disease and/or treatment under discussion in the text.

Copyright transfer
Upon acceptance of a manuscript for publication, the authors transfer copyright to the Polish Society of Arthroscopic Surgery. Once an article is accepted for publication in AJS, the information it contains cannot be revealed in the public media until the publication date of the issue in which the article appears.
Upon acceptance all published manuscripts become the permanent property of Polish Society of Arthroscopic Surgery, the Publisher of Arthroscopy and Joint Surgery and may not be published elsewhere without written permission from Polish Society of Arthroscopic Surgery.

Disclaimer
Every effort is made by the Publisher and Editorial Board to see that no inaccurate or misleading data, opinions or statements appear in Arthroscopy and Joint Surgery. Nevertheless, the substantive contents of articles and advertisements remain the sole responsibility of the author, sponsor, or advertiser concerned. Accordingly, neither the Publisher nor the Editorial Board accept any liability whatsoever for the consequences of any such inaccurate or misleading data, opinion, or statement.
Every effort is made to ensure that drug doses and other quantities are presented accurately. Nevertheless, the editors advise all readers to apply methods and techniques involving drug usage and other treatment procedures described in AJS in compliance with the recommendations and instructions of the drug or equipment manufacturer as published in the reader's own country.

Categories of articles
Manuscripts submitted for possible publication should be clearly identified as being intended for publication in one of the following categories:
• Original articles: reports of previously unpublished results from scientific experiments conducted by the authors in order to confirm or refute a clearly identified hypothesis. Most of the articles published in a given issue will belong to this category.
• Review articles: reports on the current state of knowledge in a given area or field of study, especially current controversies, theoretical and practical approaches to the issues, unresolved problems, etc., with carefully selected references to the literature. Such articles are typically commissioned by the editors of AJS, though an unsolicited review article may be accepted if it is exceptionally interesting and carefully prepared.
• Case studies: detailed description of the diagnosis and/or treatment of 1-3 individual patients, with particular emphasis on any atypical or difficult aspects of therapy in this particular case that may be of interest to AJS readers.
• Short reports: brief descriptions of selected clinical solutions to particular problems; possibly also new discoveries not yet experimentally confirmed.
• Opinion articles: authorial discussions of important issues, controversies, and schools of thought in the area of physiotherapy; also, educational (training) articles.
• Reports, reviews, announcements
• Letters to the editor: readers' remarks concerning articles from the most recent issues of AJS, or involving other issues of vital interest for physicians in the three title specialities.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR AUTHORS
The following instructions are in general compliance with the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals (N Eng J Med 1997;336:309-15; www.acponline.org/journals/resource/unifreqr.htm).

Preparing the manuscript for submission
The manuscript should be printed on white paper, preferably ISO A4 (210x297 mm); preferably on a laser printer; a typescript is acceptable if the ink is of uniform high quality. The text should be written in a 12-point font with one-and-a-half spacing and margins of 2.5 cm (1 inch) on all four sides. The editors reserve the right to edit the article for formatting.

Title page
The manuscript should have a title page containing the following information:
• the full name of each author (without academic titles)
• the organizational affiliation of each author (workplace) with the name and title of his/her immediate supervisor
• the full title of the article
• in the case of titles containing more than 10 words, a running title
• 3-6 key words in both Polish and English, selected in accordance with the MeSH system as used in the Index Medicus (MEDLINE)
• the first author's full name, address, telephone and/or fax number, and e-mail address if available, for purposes of correspondence
• the sources of any material or financial support, in the form of grants, subventions, major donations, etc., if any

Summaries
Regardless of the language in which the work is submitted, the article will be accompanied by summaries in Polish and English. If the manuscript is submitted with a sum-mary only in the original language, it is a precondition for publication that the missing summary be supplied. At the request of the first author the editors may arrange for a qualified translator at the expense of the first author (at competitive page rates). The summaries should have similar structure and content in both languages.
The summary should be in structured form, not exceeding 250 words, and should consist of four paragraphs of 1-3 sentences each, labeled:
Background (Introduction): the purpose of the article or research, the primary thesis.
Material and Methods: a brief description of the research; in the case of a review or opinion article, a characterization of the literature; for a case study, a brief description of the patient; the main parameters measured, etc.
Results: the most significant results achieved.
Conclusions: the most important 1-2 conclusions derived by the authors from the research presented in the article.
The preceding structure does not apply in detail to review or opinion articles.

Structure of the text
The text of the article should be divided into six sections labeled: Background (Introduction), Material and Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions, References. Before References, if appropriate, the authors may insert Acknowledgements; an Appendix may be attached at the end, if needed. Each section should be clearly designated by a title in boldface.
When circumstances require, depending on the contents and nature of the article, a different structure may be used, provided, however, that the structure of the article is clear, transparent and self-consistent. The editors reserve the right to return a manuscript to its authors for correction of structure.
Background (Introduction) should give the scientific and/or clinical rationale for researching the given topic, the primary issues and controversies, an explanation of the aim of the study and the primary thesis.
Material and Methods should contain essential information regarding how the experiment or research was conducted, including the essential characteristics of the experimental and control groups (age, gender), inclusion and exclusion criteria, and the randomization and masking (blinding) method used. The protocol of data acquisition, procedures, investigated parameters, methods of measurements and apparatus should be described in sufficient detail to allow other scientists to reproduce the results. In the case of published methods, the names with appropriate references should be given. References and a brief description should be provided for methods that have been published but are not well known, whereas new or substantially modified methods should be described in detail. The rationale for using such new or unknown methods should be discussed, along with a balanced evaluation of these methods, not omitting their limitations. Drugs and other chemicals should be precisely identified, including the generic name, dosage, and route of administration.
The statistical methods should be described in detail to enable verification of the reported results.
Information regarding the patients' informed consent should be included in the text of the article (see above: Patient confidentiality). Study subjects should be identified only by arbitrarily assigned initials or numbers. Any information contained in photographs, images, or other illustrations that could serve to reveal the person's identity should be thoroughly camouflaged or concealed. The faces of persons appearing in photographs should be masked or covered with a black band, unless for compelling reasons this is impossible.
Results concisely and reasonably summarize the findings in the form of text, tables and figures arranged in a logical and internally self-consistent manner. The number of tables and figures should be limited to those absolutely needed to confirm or refute the thesis. Data given in graphs and tables should not be automatically repeated in the text. The number of observations should be clearly indicated, as well as exclusions or losses to observation. Any complications that may occur in treatment or examination should be reported.
Discussion should deal only with new and/or important aspects of the results obtained, without repeating in detail data or other material previously presented in Background or Results. The Discussion should focus on the theoretical implications and/or practical consequences of the findings, including suggestions for further research. The Discussion should compare the results of the present study to those obtained by other investigators mentioned in the text.
Conclusions must be linked with the goals of the study. New hypotheses with recommendations for further research should be advanced only when fully warranted and explicitly justified. Include recommendations when appropriate. Unqualified statements and conclusions not supported by the data obtained should be avoided.
Acknowledgements list all those who have contributed to the research but do not meet the criteria for authorship, such as assistants, technicians, or department heads who provided only general support. Financial and other material support should be disclosed and acknowledged.
References, chosen for their importance and accessibility, are numbered consecutively in the order of their occurrence in the text. References first cited in tables or figure legends must be numbered in such a way as to maintain numerical sequence with the references cited in the text. The style of references is that of Index Medicus. When an article has six or fewer authors, all should be listed; when there are seven or more, only the first three are listed, then "et al."
The following sample references are taken from the Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals (N Eng J Med 1997;336:309-15; www.acponline.org/journals/resource/unifreqr.htm).
Standard journal article
Lahita R, Kluger J, Drayer DE, Koffler D, Reidenberg MM. Antibodies to nuclear antigens in patients treated with procainamide or acetylpro-cainamide. N Engl J Med 1979;301:1382-5.
Article with published erratum
Koffler D, Reidenberg MM. Antibodies to nuclear antigens in patients treated with procainamide or acetylprocainamide [published erratum appears in N EngI J Med 1979;302:322-5]. N EngI J Med 1979;301:1382-5.
Article in electronic form
Drayer DE, Koffler D. Factors in the emergence of infectious diseases. Emerg Infect Dis [serial online] 1995 Jan-Mar [cited 1996 Jun 5];1(1):[24 screens]. Available from: URL:http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/EID/eid.htm
Article, no author given
Cancer in South Africa [editorial]. S Afr Med J 1994;84:15.
Book, personal author(s)
Ringsven MK, Bond D. Gerontology and leadership skills for nurses. 2nd ed. Albany (NY): Delmar Publishers; 1996.
Book, editor(s) as author
Norman IJ, Redfern SJ, editors. Mental health care for elderly people. New York: Churchill Livingstone; 1996.
Book, organization as author and publisher
Institute of Medicine (US). Looking at the future of the Medicaid program. Washington: The Institute; 1992.
Chapter in a book
Phillips SJ, Whisnant JR. Hypertension and stroke. In: Laragh JH, Brenner BM, editors. Hypertension: pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management. 2nd ed. New York: Raven Press; 1995. p. 465-78.
Conference proceedings
Kimura J, Shibasaki H, editors. Recent advances in clinical neurophysiology. Proceedings of the 10th International Congress of EMG and Clinical Neurophysiology; 1995 Oct 15-19; Kyoto, Japan. Amsterdam: Elsevier; 1996.
Conference paper
Bengtsson S, Solheim BG. Enforcement of data protection, privacy and security in medical informatics. In: Lun KG, Oegoulet P, Piemme TE, Rienhoff 0, editors. MEDINFO 92. Proceedings of the 7th World Congress on Medical Informatics; 1992 Sep 6-10; Geneva, Switzerland.
Abstracts or reviews should generally not be cited as references, nor should „unpublished observations” or „personal communications”. If such material is necessary, it should be incorporated and acknowledged in the text at the appropriate place.

Tables are numbered consecutively in the order of their first citation in the text, with a brief title. A short or abbre-viated heading should be used for each column. The arrangement of the table should be as simple as possible, without adding unnecessary horizontal or vertical subdivisions. Explanations, including the clarification of non-standard abbreviations, should be provided in footnotes under the table, and not in the table itself. The foot-notes should be numbered independently for each table. Each table should be printed (not photographed) on a separate sheet of paper. Care should be taken that every table included with the manuscript is in fact mentioned in the text.
The statistical measures of variations should be identified, such as standard deviation and standard error of the mean. If the data appearing in a table comes from another published or unpublished source, permission to reprint should be obtained and the appropriate reference provided.
Figures should be professionally done; freehand or typewritten lettering is unacceptable. AJS accepts sharp, glossy black-and-white photos, usually 127 x 173 mm (5x7 in) but no larger than 203x254 mm (8x10 in). Original drawings, x-ray films, and other original unprocessed materials will not be accepted. Letters, numbers, and symbols should be clear and even throughout and of sufficient size as to remain legible when reduced for printing. Titles and detailed explanations should be given in the legends, not on the
illustrations themselves. Each figure should have a label pasted on its back giving the number of the figure and the author's name, and indicating the top and bottom of the figure. The editors cannot accept photographs or illustrations with visible writing, scratching or marring caused by staples or paperclips, or cardboard mounting.
Figures should be numbered consecutively according to the order in which they are first cited in the text. If a figure has been previously published, the original source must be acknowledged and written permission should be obtained from the copyright holder to reproduce the material, except for documents in the public domain.
Photographs may be color or black & white glossy prints, with numbers and descriptions on the back, giving the title of the manuscript, the authors, the number of the pho-tograph and its legend. AJS prints black-and-white photographs as standard practice; color photographs may be printed if the author is willing to participate in bearing the additional costs entailed.
Photomicrographs should have internal scale markers. The symbols, arrows, or letters used in photomicrographs should contrast with the background. If photographs of people are used, either the identity should be masked or written permission should be obtained to use the photograph.
Legends for illustrations should be printed on a separate page, doubled-spaced with Arabic numerals corresponding to the illustrations. When symbols, arrows, numbers, or letters are used to identify parts of the illustrations, each element should be clearly identified and explained in the legend. The internal scale and staining method used in photographs should be specified.
Measurements of length, height, weight, and volume should be reported in metric units (meter, kilogram, or liter) or their decimal multiples. Temperatures should be given in degrees Celsius. Blood pressures should be given in millimeters of mercury.
All hematological and clinical chemistry measurements should be reported in the metric system in a manner consistent with the International System of Units (Sl). Alternative or non-Sl units should be added in parentheses.
Abbreviations and symbols are acceptable only when standard. Abbreviations should not be used in the title or abstract. The full term for which an abbreviation stands should precede its first use in the text, unless it is a standard unit of measurement.
Text on diskette/CD-R may be accepted if processed with the use of a standard text editor and accompanied by a printout. The use of standard12-point fonts is advised. Tables, figures, drawings and photographs may be processed using any mode and software (preferably *.txt, *.doc, *.wpd, *.xls, *.bmp, *.eps, *.tif). 3.5" diskettes, CD-R disks are required.
Before sending the diskette to AJS, the authors should be certain that (1) the diskette/CD-R contains the same version of the text as the printout; (2) the diskette/CD-R label gives the file name(s) and format(s); (4) the proper information is provided regarding the hardware and software used (e.g. IBM or MacIntosh, DOS version, etc.). In the event of a conflict between the version of the text on the diskette and the printed version, the latter will be treated as authoritative.

Sending the article to AJS
The authors are requested to send 2 (two) copies of the manuscript along with the appropriate number of tables, figures, and photographs and a computer diskette/CD-R or DVD.
The required number of copies of the manuscript should be sent in a heavy paper envelope, with a cardboard insert, if necessary, to prevent photographs and diskettes/CD-R from being damaged. Photographs should be placed in a separate envelope.
The manuscript should be accompanied by a cover letter signed if possible by all the authors. This letter should include:
1) a declaration pertaining to the status of the work, including the fact that it has not been previously published, or that parts have been published elsewhere, according to the instructions given earlier in this document;
2) a statement of financial relationships (including information on grants, for example, with the source and number) or other information that might lead to uncertainty regarding conflict of interest (see above, Conflict of Interests);
3) a declaration that the manuscript has been read and approved by all the authors, that the requirements for authorship as stated earlier in this document have been met, and that each author believes the manuscript represents the honest work of all the authors named on the title page;
4) the name, address, and telephone number of the primary author, who is responsible for communicating with the other authors about revisions and final correction of proofs.
The letter should give any additional information that may be helpful to the editor, such as whether the author would be willing to meet the cost of reproducing color
illustrations.
The manuscript must also be accompanied by copies of any required permissions to reproduce published material, to use illustrations or report information about identifiable people, or to name people for their contributions.
The editors of AJS consider these conditions to have been met if the first author has signed the manuscript.

Complete packages of manuscripts are to be sent to the editors at the following address:

Prof. Jaroslaw Deszczynski
Orthopaedic Department
Kondratowicza 8
03-242 Warsaw
Poland

e-mail: drstolarczyk@gmail.com