Instructions to authors
Article formatting
Impact Surgery accepts non-formatted initial submissions. Manuscripts do not need to follow journal formatting requirements at first submission. Authors are encouraged to follow the guidance below where possible, as this supports peer review and may shorten decision timelines. If a manuscript is invited for revision, authors will be required to format the revised submission in accordance with this guidance.
Reporting guidelines
Original research papers and brief papers must be prepared in accordance with the appropriate research reporting guideline. Reporting guidelines promote clear and transparent reporting of methods and results. The relevant reporting guideline checklist must be uploaded as supplementary material. The checklist should indicate the page number in the manuscript where each item is addressed. All reporting guidelines are available via the EQUATOR Network: https://www.equator-network.org
Consent for publication and confidentiality
Impact Surgery requires special safeguards for manuscripts that contain personal information about identifiable individuals, including images, videos, audio recordings, clinical details, or other data that could reasonably lead to identification. Authors must ensure that such information is appropriately anonymised wherever possible and that confidentiality is maintained in accordance with ethical and legal standards. Where anonymisation is not possible or sufficient, authors must obtain explicit written informed consent from the participant (or their legal guardian) for both participation in the study and publication of the identifiable material. Consent for publication must cover all formats in which the article may be published, including print, online, and supplementary materials. The journal may request copies of consent documentation and reserves the right to refuse publication if adequate consent has not been obtained or documented.
Article types
During submission, authors must select the appropriate article type.
Original research paper
• Maximum 3000 words (excluding abstract)
• Up to 20 references
• Up to 6 tables and figures in total
Brief paper
• Maximum 1000 words (excluding abstract)
• Maximum 10 references
• Maximum 2 tables and figures in total
Editorial
• Maximum 1000 words (excluding abstract)
• Maximum 8 authors
• Maximum 10 references
• Maximum 2 tables and figures in total
Educational article
• 1500–3000 words
• Maximum 30 references
• Maximum of 5 tables and/or figures
Correspondence
• Maximum 300 words
• Maximum 5 authors
• Maximum one figure or table
• Maximum 10 references
Conference abstract
• Accepted only for special editions
• Structured abstract of up to 300 words
• Maximum 5 references
Case reports
Case reports are occasionally published, but should first be submitted to Impact Case Reports, from where the Editors will transfer over selected and suitable articles:
https://impact-journals.org/index.php/icr
Submission of manuscripts
All manuscripts must be submitted through the online submission system. Guidance on using the submission system is available via the submission portal.
Guidance applicable to all article types
Files to upload
Authors should upload:
• the main manuscript as a single Microsoft Word document
• each figure as a separate image file, where applicable
• supplementary material as a separate file
Randomised trials
Randomised trials must be accompanied by a completed CONSORT checklist uploaded as supplementary material. All checklist items must be addressed within the manuscript.
Structure of the main manuscript
The manuscript must be provided as a single document in the following order:
- Title page
- Abstract
- Main body of the manuscript
- References
- Tables
- Figures
Figures must be placed on separate pages at the end of the document, and uploaded separately as 300 DPI TIFF/JEPGS/EPS.
Title page
The title page must include:
• manuscript title, including study design
• word count
• author names and affiliations
• conflicts of interest statement
• funding statement
• acknowledgements
• data sharing statement
References
Impact Surgery uses a Vancouver referencing style. References should be numbered consecutively in the order in which they first appear in the text and indicated using superscript Arabic numerals placed before punctuation. The reference list should be presented at the end of the manuscript, and all references must be cited in the text, tables, or figures.
For journal articles, references should include the author list, article title, abbreviated journal name in italics, year of publication, month and day where available, volume and issue number, and page range. Author names should be presented as surname followed by initials without full stops, with up to six authors listed before the use of “et al”. Journal titles must be abbreviated in accordance with Index Medicus.
Example: Avrova A, Burke J, Glasbey J, Bhangu A, Vinck EE, Bhudia S, et al. The RoboDev Guideline: key requirements and recommendations for developing and expanding global robotic surgical programmes. Impact Surg. 2025 Nov 30;2(7):254–65.
Articles published online ahead of print should include the date of online publication and, where available, the digital object identifier (DOI). Where both online and final versions exist, authors should cite the version of record.
Books should be referenced using the author or editor name, book title, edition where applicable, place of publication, publisher, and year. Chapters in edited books should include the chapter author and title, followed by the editor, book title, publisher details, year, and page range.
Online material may be cited where appropriate and should include the author or organisation, title, URL, and date accessed. Preprints may be cited but must be clearly identified as such, with the name of the preprint server and a persistent identifier. Authors are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of all references and should verify citations against the original source prior to submission.
Tables
Tables should be uploaded as editable versions. Do not merge cells or use colours. All tables must be cited in the manuscript text.
• one table per page
• heading above each table
• optional footnote below the table
• portrait format only; no landscape tables in the main document
• tables in the main document must not exceed one page
Figures
Figures must be cited in the manuscript text and uploaded as separate image files named according to their order of appearance. Pie charts are not published. Bar charts should be avoided where a table would convey the information adequately.
• one figure per page
• heading above each figure
• optional caption below the figure
• portrait format only
• must not exceed one page
Supplementary material
Supplementary material may include additional methods, results, tables, figures, references, and reporting guideline checklists. The supplement should:
• be uploaded as a separate file
• begin with a cover page stating the manuscript title
• include a contents page with page numbers for longer supplements
• include no more than one table or figure per page
All supplementary tables and figures must be cited in the main manuscript. Supplementary material is not copy-edited, check, or typeset; authors hold the final responsibility.
Original research papers
Original research papers must report original data. The main manuscript should provide sufficient information to understand the study rationale, methods, key results, and interpretation. Additional material may be included in the supplement.
Abstract
Maximum 300 words, structured as:
• Introduction
• Methods
• Results
• Conclusion
Introduction
Approximately three paragraphs addressing the clinical or scientific problem, current knowledge, and the purpose of the study. The final sentence must state the primary study aim.
Methods
Sufficient detail must be provided to allow full understanding of the study. Subheadings should include:
• study approvals
• study objectives
• study setting and context
• inclusion and exclusion criteria
• interventions and comparators
• primary and secondary outcomes
• sample size calculation
• statistical analysis
Detailed methods may be included in the supplement.
Results
Results should be concise. Data presented in tables or figures should not be repeated in the text.
Discussion
The discussion should cover, in sequential paragraphs:
- main findings
- secondary findings
- context within existing literature
- study strengths and limitations
- implications for practice, policy, or future research
A separate conclusion paragraph should not be included.
Figures
Most studies are expected to include a participant or study flow diagram where appropriate.
Brief papers
Brief papers report original data with a concise message. The main manuscript must provide sufficient information to understand the study, with additional material included in the supplement.
Abstract
Maximum 250 words, structured as Introduction, Methods, Results, and Conclusion.
Main text
The structure and principles follow those of original research papers but in a more concise format. A separate conclusion paragraph should not be included.
Systematic Reviews, Meta-Analysis, Narrative Reviews
The journal publishes systematic and narrative reviews. Systematic reviews should follow PRISMA guidelines and include a clearly described search strategy, while narrative reviews should provide balanced, evidence-based synthesis and declare methodological limitations.
Study protocols
The journal considers peer-reviewed study protocols for planned or ongoing research. Protocols must include ethics approval where applicable, study or trial registration, and sufficient methodological detail to permit replication. Authors are encouraged to follow SPIRIT or other relevant reporting guidelines. Please follow the instructions for word limits set out above.
Editorials
Editorials may address original research published in Impact Surgery, recent scientific developments, or broader policy issues in surgery and perioperative care. Editorials may be peer reviewed.
Editorials may include:
• up to 800 words
• up to 10 references
• one optional table or figure
Editorials do not include an abstract. The abstract field should match the first paragraph of the Editorial. Please limit authorship to six individuals.
Educational articles
Educational articles address contemporary topics relevant to surgery and perioperative care. They should be written in clear, accessible language suitable for non-specialist readers. Manuscripts should be 1500–3000 words and may include a maximum of five tables AND figures.
