Submissions

Author Guidelines

Article formatting

Impact Surgery accepts first non-formatted first submissions, meaning that when you first submit a manuscript you do not have to format your submission according to our guidance. However, the more closely your submission follows our guidance, the easier the review process will be and the faster we will be able to make a decision. If you are invited to submit a revised manuscript, you will be asked to follow our guidance at that stage.

Reporting Guidelines

Reporting guidelines encourage clear and transparent methods and results. Original research papers and short papers should be written in accordance with the relevant research reporting guideline. Reporting guidelines should be submitted with research submissions as part of the supplement. The checklist should list which page of your manuscript each checklist item appears. All available guidelines can be found on the Equator Network website.

Article types

When you enter our submission system, you will need to choose the article type you are submitting. We accept the following article types:

• Original research paper: Maximum 3000 words and 20 references, up to 6 tables and figures in total
• Brief paper: Maximum 1000 words and 10 references, up to 2 tables and figures in total
• Editorial: Maximum 800 words (no abstract) and 10 references, 1 table or figure (optional)

Submitting your manuscript

Please submit your manuscript through our online submission system. A guide to using the online submission system is available here.

Guidance for all article types

• Uploads: Please upload (1) your main manuscript, as a Microsoft Word file; (2) figures (if applicable), each figure should be uploaded as a separate image file; (3) supplement.
• General flow of main manuscript: The sections of the manuscript should flow in the following order (all in a single document): 1) title page; 2) abstract; 3) main body of manuscript; 4) references; 5) tables; 6) figures - please embed in main manuscript file as well as uploading them separately.
• Title page: Include the title, word count, author list and affiliations, conflicts of interest, funding statement, acknowledgements, data sharing statement. The title should include the study design (i.e. randomised controlled trial, prospective cohort study, systematic review, etc).
• Corresponding author: The title, name, full hospital address, and email address are needed on the front page for every paper.
• References: If additional references are needed (e.g. systematic review) beyond the limit for the article type, list these in the supplement.
• Tables: Include one table per page, with a heading above the table. If required, a caption can be included below the table. Tables should be portrait only and must not extend beyond one page. All tables should be referenced in the main manuscript, usually in the results section (i.e. Table 1, Table 2, etc).
• Figures: Include one figure per page, with a heading above the figure. If required, a caption can be included below the figure. Figure should be portrait only and must not extend beyond one page. We do not publish pie charts. Avoid unnecessary bar charts, if a table will suffice. All figures should be referenced in the main manuscript, usually in the results section (i.e. Figure 1, Figure 2, etc). Figures for inclusion in the main manuscript should be included in the main manuscript file and also uploaded as separate image files named accordingly (Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.).
• Supplement: Any methods, results, tables, figures, or references that do not fit in to the main manuscript can be included in a supplement, along with the reporting guideline checklist (if relevant). The supplement should be uploaded as a separate file. Please start the supplement with a cover page including the title of the manuscript. For longer supplements, include a contents page with page numbers. If including tables or figures, include only one per page. The supplement can be as long as needed. All supplemental tables and figures should be referenced in the main manuscript, usually in the results section (i.e. Supplemental Table 1, Supplemental Table 2, etc). The supplement will not be edited or typeset.

Guidance for original research papers

Original research papers should include original data. They can include up to a maximum of 3000 words (excluding abstract), 20 references, and up to 6 tables and figures in total. The information in the main manuscript should be sufficient for readers to understand the rationale for the study, methods, key results, and interpretation; however, any additional text or tables and figures can be included in a supplement.

• Abstract: Maximum 300 words. You should include the following sections: Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusion.
• Introduction: Aim for 3 paragraphs (what’s the problem, what’s already known, what are you going to do about it). The final sentence of the introduction should state the main aim of the study. 
• Methods: Aim for sufficient detail to give the reader a complete understanding of what you have done. Subheadings should include: study approvals (ethics); study objectives; study setting and context; patient inclusion and exclusion criteria; intervention description +/- comparator description; primary outcome (and definitions); secondary outcomes (and definitions); , sample size calculation; statistical analysis (primary analysis, subgroups, sensitivity analyses). Detailed methods can be included as a supplement. 
• Results: Aim to keep the results succinct. Do not repeat data presented in tables.
• Discussion: Aim for a total of 5-6 paragraphs, in the following order: 1) main findings; the  2) secondary findings; 3) discussion in context of previous research; 4) implications for practice, policy, and/or future research; 5) study strengths and limitations. Do not include a conclusion paragraph.
• Figures: We expect most studies to include a flowchart of patients (e.g. randomised controlled trials or cohort studies) or studies (systematic reviews).

Brief papers

Brief papers should include original data with a concise and clear message. They can include up to a maximum of 1000 words (excluding abstract), 10 references, and up to 2 tables and figures in total. Additional text or tables/ figures can be included in the supplement. The information in the main manuscript should be sufficient for readers to understand the rationale for the study, methods, key results, and interpretation; however, any additional text or tables and figures can be included in a supplement.

• Abstract: Maximum 250 words. You should include the following sections: Introduction, Methods, Results, Conclusion.
• Introduction: Aim to cover what’s the problem, what’s already known, and what are you going to do about it. The final sentence of the introduction should state the main aim of the study. 
• Methods: Aim for sufficient detail to give the reader a complete understanding of what you have done. Subheadings should include: study approvals (ethics); study objectives; study setting and context; patient inclusion and exclusion criteria; intervention description +/- comparator description; primary outcome (and definitions); secondary outcomes (and definitions); , sample size calculation; statistical analysis (primary analysis, subgroups, sensitivity analyses). Detailed methods can be included as a supplement. 
• Results: Keep the results succinct. Do not repeat data presented in tables.
• Discussion: Aim to cover the main findings; brief discussion in context of previous research; implications for practice, policy, and/or future research; study strengths and limitations. Do not include a conclusion paragraph.

Editorial

These are short editorial-style articles that can focus on an original research paper published in Impact Surgery, discuss recent scientific developments, or discuss wider policy issues relating to surgery and perioperative care. If you are not sure whether your idea for a comment is within Impact Surgery's remit, please email us at editor@impact-surgery.org. These manuscripts may be peer-reviewed and can include up to a maximum of 800 words, 10 references, and either a  table or figure (optional). Editorials do not include an abstract; on the online submission system please enter leave the abstract box blank.