Journal profile · NURSING
International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing
ISSN 1878-1241 · eISSN 1878-1292 · Elsevier
International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing: CAS Zone 4 · Medicine (2025 upgraded edition); impact factor 1.8 (journal website); hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,160; median 77 days to acceptance (90 articles, last 24 months); 73 articles in 2025; indexed in ESCI and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing is published by Elsevier and is in Zone 4 of Medicine in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Hip and Femur Fractures, Total Knee Arthroplasty Outcomes and Human auditory perception and evaluation, together about 33.1% of its articles. Its main subfields are Surgery. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Official journal of the Association of Maltese Orthopaedic Nurses, the Australia New Zealand Orthopaedic Nurses Association, Canadian Orthopaedic Nurses Association, RCN Society of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing and officially recognised by the Asian Association for Dynamic Osteosynthesis (Nursing), the Danish Orthopaedic Nurses Association (FSOS), Ortopedisjuksköterskor I Sverige (Sweden) and the International Collaboration of Orthopaedic NursingThe International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing is a peer-reviewed journal that seeks to promote the development and exchange of specialist knowledge within orthopaedic and trauma practice. The focus of orthopaedic and musculoskeletal trauma includes delivery of care for individuals with musculoskeletal injuries and disorders across the lifespan. It is not limited to purely the acute management of injuries and disorders but includes health promotion, bone health, falls/injury reduction, education, development of specialist workforce, contribution to health policy development and promotion of health in society. The journal is devoted primarily to nurses but also aims to serve other health professionals involved in the care of patients with orthopaedic and associated traumatic conditions. The journal aims to promote and share best practice through the dissemination of high quality research findings, debate within practice, exploration of professional issues and the development of health care practice as well as innovative roles.The journal publishes a wide range of papers from primary research and evidence updates to personal reflections on practice, book reviews, education and practice/management issues. The journal is committed to encouraging the sharing of new and innovative practices implemented across a broad range of international settings that will benefit people with musculoskeletal conditions and injuries worldwide. The journal encourages submission of different types of literature reviews such as scoping, narrative, integrative and systematic reviews, practice/quality improvement projects, healthcare system designs/reforms and innovations and letters to the editor regarding relevant topics. The journal is keen to consider submissions from a broad range of disciplines (ie non nursing) but it is essential that authors from those fields make the relevance of that paper to orthopaedic and trauma nursing overt in the manuscript.The mission of the journal is to facilitate global networking amongst orthopaedic and trauma nurses that results in the sharing of evidence-based practice, the dissemination of ideas and knowledge amongst orthopaedic and trauma nurses and other members of the health care team, including the organisations which support such practitioners in developing their knowledge and practice. The editorial team encourages and supports contributions from both experienced, developing and first time authors.Practice Development in Orthopaedics and Trauma Papers which describe initiatives and innovation in practice development or support continuing education are welcomed by the editors. In keeping with the journal's aims and scope, short papers are invited from clinical staff, educators and students. Such papers may focus on, but are not restricted to, best practice and practice development initiatives; implementation of research findings and education; improvements in patient care and development of the workforce in the clinical environment. Papers should be prepared in keeping with the journal's style (Guide for Authors can be found at Guide for Authors and should help the orthopaedic and trauma practitioner to develop and maintain their own skills and knowledge and help to transform delivery of quality care for patients elsewhere in the world. In addition, authors can use such papers to make the most of international networks by sharing their work, innovations and ideas.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): NURSING
Editor-in-chief Rebecca JesterPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 2 in mainland China (about 6%); most named United Kingdom 11, Denmark 7, Australia 5, Mainland China 2, United States 2 (33 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Hip and Femur FracturesMedicine15.4%
- Total Knee Arthroplasty OutcomesMedicine11%
- Human auditory perception and evaluationEngineering6.8%
- Educational Robotics and EngineeringComputer Science6.1%
- Diverse Scientific and Economic StudiesEconomics, Econometrics and Finance5.9%
- Cardiac, Anesthesia and Surgical OutcomesMedicine5%
- Bone health and osteoporosis researchMedicine3.9%
- Musculoskeletal pain and rehabilitationMedicine3.6%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Medicine Zone 4
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 4 |
| Minor | Nursing | Zone 4 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Medicine Zone 3
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Medicine | Zone 3 |
| Minor | Nursing | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Not covered
Not covered by this edition.
Database indexing
ESCIScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor (publisher)
- 1.8Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 2.6LetPub ·
- CiteScore (publisher)
- 2.6Publisher website ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.41LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 0.72LetPub ·
- h-index
- 30OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 161OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 1.16OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 5.6%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 40.8%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 53LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 856 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 55 | 23 | 4 |
| 2025 | 73 | 28 | 90 |
| 2024 | 49 | 22 | 111 |
| 2023 | 52 | 19 | 234 |
| 2022 | 36 | 8 | 202 |
| 2021 | 40 | 11 | 265 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with PubMed · to
77 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 59 days – 121 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 1 days (90 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 81 days
- Sample
- 90 articles with submission and acceptance dates (124 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Submission to first decision
- 4 daysPublisher website ·
- First decision after review
- 47 daysPublisher website ·
- Submission to acceptance
- 77 daysPublisher website ·
- Acceptance to publication
- 2 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,160 / EUR 2,960 / GBP 2,530 / JPY 391,930 | — | — | |
| Publisher website | USD 3,310 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
What to prepare4 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- ≤ 250 words
- Keywords
- 1–7
- Manuscript length
- ≤ 4,000 words
- Reference style
- Vancouver
Article types accepted13, with length limits
- commentaryAuthors are required to submit manuscripts according to the requirements of the Guide for Authors. Please note that papers not formatted in this manner will be …Length not stated
- editorialAuthors are required to submit manuscripts according to the requirements of the Guide for Authors. Please note that papers not formatted in this manner will be …Length not stated
- letterAuthors are required to submit manuscripts according to the requirements of the Guide for Authors. Please note that papers not formatted in this manner will be …Length not stated
- letter to the editorAuthors are required to submit manuscripts according to the requirements of the Guide for Authors. Please note that papers not formatted in this manner will be …Length not stated
- letters to the editorAuthors are required to submit manuscripts according to the requirements of the Guide for Authors. Please note that papers not formatted in this manner will be …Length not stated
- original articleAuthors are required to submit manuscripts according to the requirements of the Guide for Authors. Please note that papers not formatted in this manner will be …Length not stated
- original researchAuthors are required to submit manuscripts according to the requirements of the Guide for Authors. Please note that papers not formatted in this manner will be …Length not stated
- original research papererences and reference lists. Word limit Original Research Papers: Provide a full length account of original research, between 2,500-4,000 words, excluding Abstr…main text ≤ 4,000 words
- original research papersOriginal Research Papers: Provide a full length account of original research, between 2,500-4,000 words, excluding Abstract, tables/figures and reference list.Length not stated
- practice development in orthopaedics and traumaPractice Development in orthopaedics and trauma: Describe initiatives and innovation in practice development, between 1,000-2,000 words, excluding Abstract, tab…Length not stated
- research paperAuthors are required to submit manuscripts according to the requirements of the Guide for Authors. Please note that papers not formatted in this manner will be …Length not stated
- reviewAuthors are required to submit manuscripts according to the requirements of the Guide for Authors. Please note that papers not formatted in this manner will be …main text ≤ 5,000 words
- review papersReview Papers: (include systematic, scoping, narrative, integrative etc reviews) Provide an in-depth and up to date critical review of a related topic, between …Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Publication ethics, License & copyright, Open access, Peer review, Preprints
- AI use Declaration of generative AI use
Authors must declare the use of generative AI tools in the manuscript preparation process upon submission of the paper.Generative AI and AI-assisted technologies (“AI tools”) have been rapidly adopted in research and scholarly publishing, offering significant benefits while requiring clear standards for responsible and transparent use.Authors preparing a manuscript for this journal may use AI tool…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Group authorship
Group authorship refers to the attribution of an article to a defined and named group of authors whose members have contributed to the work. Examples include research consortia, clinical trial groups, collaborative networks, task forces or working groups, expert panels or consensus groups, and participatory research groups. Group authorship must be declared on the title page at submission. When av…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Declaration of competing interests
All authors must disclose any financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence or bias their work. Examples of potential competing interests include:EmploymentConsultanciesStock ownershipHonorariaPaid expert testimonyPatent applications or registrationsGrants or any other fundingAffiliation with the journal as an Editor or Advisory Board …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics
Ethics in publishing Model summary
Authors must follow ethical guidelines stated in Elsevier's Publishing Ethics Policy.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- License & copyright License options
Authors will be offered open access user license options which will determine how you, and third parties, can reuse your open access article. We advise that you review these options and any funding body license requirements before selecting a license option.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access
We refer you to our open access information page to learn about open access options for this journal.
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Peer review
Double anonymized peer review Model summary
This journal follows a double anonymized review process. Your submission will initially be assessed by our editors. If your submission is deemed suitable, it will typically be sent to be reviewed by a minimum of two reviewers for an independent expert assessment of the scientific quality. The decision as to whether your article is accepted or rejected for publication will be made by our editors.Re…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Preprints Preprints
Preprint sharing Model summary
Preprint sharingAuthors may share preprints in line with Elsevier's article sharing policy. Sharing preprints, such as on a preprint server, will not count as prior publication.We advise you to read our policy on multiple, redundant or concurrent publication.
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- ISSN
- 1878-1241
- Electronic ISSN
- 1878-1292
- Society / sponsor
- Association of Maltese Orthopaedic Nurses
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗LetPub
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
- Special issues ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing
What CAS zone is International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing is in Zone 4 of Medicine, and in Zone 4 of the minor category Nursing. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 3 of Medicine. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing?
The journal's website gives an impact factor of 1.8; this is the journal's own figure, as LetPub lists none for it; CiteScore 2.6, h-index 30.
How long does peer review take at International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing?
Based on the dates recorded on 90 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 77 days (interquartile range 59–121 days). Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: ≤ 250 words; Keywords: 1–7; Manuscript length: ≤ 4,000 words; Reference style: Vancouver. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing based?
Of the 33 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 2 (about 6%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United Kingdom (11), Denmark (7) and Australia (5). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing is indexed in ESCI and Scopus.
Is International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing open access, and what is the APC?
International Journal of Orthopaedic and Trauma Nursing is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,160.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, Publisher website, OpenAlex; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .