Research methods and the bone & joint journal

The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery (British Volume) had a long and justified reputation for delivering the latest musculoskeletal research in a well-written and easily digestible format. Readers want and deserve clear and concise reporting of research findings and, in particular, how these will inform their clinical practice. In order to deliver clinical research in a palatable form, no matter what the subject, or country of origin, each paper undergoes a lengthy editing process. The Bone & Joint Journal will continue this tradition, which is fundamental to its position as one of the foremost orthopaedic journals in the world. Alongside this emphasis on readability, The Bone & Joint Journal will also be working hard to improve the reporting of research methodology. It is vital that the research reported in the Journal is cited elsewhere and used in evidence-synthesis and, increasingly, in the development of clinical guidelines. Like it or not, the United Kingdom’s National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence,1 and equivalent international institutions, play a major part in the commissioning of clinical services. Research published in The Bone & Joint Journal must inform the decisions made by these bodies. It must have a clear voice