JBJS Open Access Template
Get your JBJS Open Access paper right the first time: a ready-made structure with the right abstract and citations, so editors see your science, not formatting slips.
4.3
How to Use the JBJS Open Access Template | A Step-by-Step Guide
Authored by Sumalatha Gangadhar | Published on 17 August, 2026
Submitting to JBJS Open Access goes smoothly when your draft already matches the journal's own rules. Editors screen new manuscripts against the JBJS Open Access guide for authors before peer review, so formatting, structure, and required statements should be right on the first draft rather than repaired during upload. This template sets that structure up for you.
What is the JBJS Open Access Template?
It is a manuscript shell aligned to JBJS Open Access. It covers front matter, the abstract the journal expects, a body organized to the journal's article types, and a reference list in the journal's required style. Confirm current scope and article types on the JBJS Open Access journal page before you draft.
What's actually in a JBJS Open Access submission:
Prepare the title, authors, affiliations, and ORCID iDs. Write the abstract to the journal's rule and word limit, organize the body to the article type, and apply the required reference style from the first citation. Complete every declaration (ethics, competing interests, funding, data availability) the JBJS Open Access guide for authors lists, and cite figures and tables in order.
What separates a clean submission from one that gets kicked back:
The common failure modes are formatting or reference style that does not match the guide for authors, missing required statements, and an incomplete portal checklist. Clear all three against the JBJS Open Access guide for authors before you submit.
What does this JBJS Open Access Template include?
The shell mirrors what editorial staff check first: article-type fit, the abstract rules, required declarations, and the journal's reference style. For more detail see the author resources. When your draft is ready, upload it through Editorial Manager.
Steps to Use This Template with SciSpace Agent
- Click Start Writing on this page. The SciSpace Agent prompt screen opens with the template loaded.
- Use the loaded template, or upload a version your group already uses for JBJS Open Access.
- Edit the prompt with your topic and article type, and note any requirement from the JBJS Open Access guide for authors.
- Run the prompt. The agent drafts into the correct structure and reference style.
- Use View Outputs to verify required statements and formatting are present.
- Export and submit through Editorial Manager.
JBJS Open Access Template Structure at a Glance
| Element | JBJS Open Access requirement |
|---|---|
| Abstract | Scientific articles (RCTs, Observational Studies, Basic Science, Survey Studies): Structured abstract with 5 headings - Background (stating primary research question), Methods, Results, Conclusions, Level of Evidence or Clinical Relevance; maximum 325 words (350 words if including demographic information per race/ethnicity reporting). Methods, Pilots, and Protocols: Summary abstract (unstructured) maximum 325 words emphasizing methodology. AOA Critical Issues in Education: Summary abstract (if appropriate, optional) maximum 325 words. JBJS Review and Critical Analysis Review: Bulleted abstract of 3 to 5 Take-Home Points (not a word-limited structured abstract). Systematic Review: Structured abstract with headings - Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions, Level of Evidence; no specific word limit stated |
| Main text | 2500-word limit for all article types (RCTs, Observational Studies, Basic Science, Survey Studies, Methods/Pilots/Protocols, AOA Critical Issues in Education, JBJS Review, Critical Analysis Review, Systematic Review). Word count includes abstract but excludes references and figure legends. Maximum 5 tables and/or figures total. Section order for Scientific articles: Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results, Discussion, References |
| Declarations | Ethics approval/consent as applicable; competing interests; funding; data availability |
| Figures/tables | Publication-ready; cited in order |
| Supplemental | Upload separately when used |
| Keywords | Not specified in the official author guidelines |
| References | PubMed/Index Medicus format. References numbered according to order of citation in text (not alphabetically). Journal citations must include all authors (not 'et al.') and complete page numbers (not just first page) |
| Peer review | Double-blind (double-blinded peer review). At no time are the identities of authors or reviewers disclosed to one another |
| Submission | www.editorialmanager.com/jbjsoa/ |
Quick Tips for Using the JBJS Open Access Template
Read the JBJS Open Access guide for authors once before drafting and once before upload. Draft the abstract after results are stable. Set the reference style before adding citations. Keep a cover letter that states your contribution and fit to JBJS Open Access in under a page.
Best Practices
Skim two or three recent JBJS Open Access papers to calibrate depth and figure style. Make the novelty clear in the first two pages. Deposit data and code when the policy on the JBJS Open Access journal page requires it. Disclose any preprint or conference version with identifiers in the cover letter.
Before You Submit: Final Check
Do one focused pass against the JBJS Open Access guide for authors: scope, length, reference style, required declarations, and figure quality. Then submit through Editorial Manager.
