Instructions for Authors

The East and Central African Journal of Surgery (the Journal) will consider new manuscripts on clinical research, surgical technique, surgical practice, trauma, critical care, as well as clinical reviews, editorials, brief communications, and letters of interest to readers in Africa and globally.  All submissions are subject to peer review.

Authorship:
A cover letter, which may be electronic, must accompany all submissions and be signed by the first author.  It must state that the manuscript is neither being published nor considered for publication elsewhere and declare or deny any conflict of interest.  Abstracts are not regarded as duplicate publications.  Each author should have contributed significantly to the paper and be able to defend its entire content.  Individuals who have made lesser contributions should be credited in the acknowledgements.  If accepted, the paper becomes the copyright of the journal and formal transfer of ownership may be required.

Preparation of manuscripts:
The Journal complies with the "Uniform Requirements for Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals" published by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1979 (Refer to N Engl J Med 1997; 336:309-15).  As of July 1st, 2004, all submissions must be electronic.  These can be sent as email attachment or by regular mail on a PC compatible diskette.  Three printed copies of the manuscript should be submitted as a back up to the electronic submission.  Manuscripts should be in MS Word or Corel Word Perfect and illustrations submitted in high-resolution JPEG of bitmap format.  Anything reproduced from published work must give the original source in full and include written permission from the copy write holder.

Manuscript Content:
Unblinded Title page.  The title page should include: (1) the title; (2) the names and initials of each author with academic degrees; (3) each author's affiliation; (4) postal, email address, and fax number for corresponding author; (5) sources of financial support.

Structured Abstract:
This must not exceed 200 words and include the following headings.

Objective:
The reason for the study, its main aims.

Methods:
State the study design, setting, patient selection and laboratory or statistical methods.

Results:
State the factual findings and estimates with statistical significance or confidence intervals.  Negative findings should include a power calculation.

Conclusions:
Should reflect the studies objectives and be supported by the findings.

Manuscript Body:
Should be blinded and have the following headings: - Introduction (A limited review of the relevant literature leading to the research question; Materials and Methods (the study design and methods, diagnostic criteria, the population or patient samples, laboratory and/or statistical methods and if there are animal or human subjects ethical clearance); Results present findings in a logical sequence with tables and figures as necessary; Discussion:  conclusions based on findings, synthesis and differences with the literature reviewed, study limitations, level of evidence and future clinical or scientific implications.

References:
The references are to be presented in the Vancouver style.  Their accuracy is the responsibility of the authors.  Reference to abstracts are discouraged and to unpublished communications not accepted.