History of the journal

Journal History

The oldest scientific-practical journal “Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Prosthetics” (published since 1927) is a specialized periodical in “Traumatology and Orthopaedics” (14.01.21) for specialists of the above and other related medical fields.

During the whole period of its activity this veteran journal with a rather reputable record of service has been the brain and the chief source of information for many thousands of orthopaedic traumatologists, neurosurgeons, neurologists and prosthetists.

The problem of creation of a specialized journal was first brought up by M.I. Sytenko at the All-Ukrainian Congress of Surgeons in Odessa in 1926, and he was backed by all the delegates. The editorial board, headed by M.I. Sytenko, was formed in December of the same year in Kharkov; this board prepared and realized the publication of the journal. The first issue of the journal, named “Orthopaedics and Traumatology”, appeared in May 1927. The journal was founded by the Ukrainian State Clinical Institute of Orthopaedics and Traumatology of the People’s Commissariat of Health of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (now Sytenko Institute of Spine and Joint Pathology of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine).

As early as with its first issues, the journal attracted attention of specialists in the former Soviet Union as the only source of information in orthopaedics and traumatology in the country, this field having dynamic development all over the world. Almost immediately, the journal united leading specialists and became the mouthpiece of the orthopaedic-traumatological thought in the country.

During the years of World War II the editorial staff of the journal suspended its publishing activity. The work was resumed from January 1955, and the journal immediately joined in solving urgent problems, typical for the post-war time: war injuries, their complications and consequences, restorative treatment of disabled soldiers, their rehabilitation, tuberculosis of bones and joints, particularly in children, and consequences of poliomyelitis. These problems, which were burning and urgent at that period of time, were actively explored on pages of this periodical.

In 1960s-1990s the journal contributed to achieving successes in clinical orthopaedics and traumatology and their practical application, namely: methods of osteosynthesis in bone injuries, formation of the Soviet vertebrology, paediatric orthopaedics, practical elimination of tuberculosis of bones and joints. Also significantly successful became treatment of scoliotic disease, preservation and transplantation of tissues, use of new materials, arthroplasty, prosthetics on a surgical table after amputation of an extremity, early diagnosis and treatment of congenital locomotor pathology in children.

From 1955 to 1992 the journal had the status of the All-Union periodical and was issued by the main publishing house of medical literature “Meditsina” Publishers with the circulation of up to 14,000-15,000 copies, but after the disintegration of the USSR the journal became Ukrainian again. Up to 1997, the appearance, capacity and design of the journal remained standard. For a long period of time the editorial board did not change the design of the journal cover due to a belief that the readers had got used to it. But the epoch changed, and the periodical changed too. Since 1998 it has been representing a harmonious combination of traditions of previous times and standards of Western pictorials. The journal has changed its old appearance to a modernized flax cover, in whose centre there is the symbol of orthopaedics, the famous Tree of Nicolas Andry. The tree has three main branches, which symbolize orthopaedics, traumatology and prosthetics. The architectonic organization of the print frame as a whole characterizes the field of action of orthopaedics, traumatology and prosthetics, that is restoration of the locomotor system, while foundation plates and side column bases show the solid theoretical basis of our speciality, of its all three branches. The infants imply the literal meaning of the term “orthopaedics” (translated from the ancient Greek as “straight child”). The snake is a generally used symbol of medicine, the pigeons and creeping vine branches emphasize close relationships between orthopaedics, traumatology and prosthetics, and the landscape space shows infinite prospects in the development of the medical science. The design and styling of the symbol and journal cover were elaborated by designer S.V. Leontyev.

Despite all political and economic difficulties after the disintegration of the USSR, the journal remains a mouthpiece and organizer of the field, supporting and developing the clinical thinking of Ukrainian orthopaedic traumatologists already in the community of new Ukrainian periodicals in this speciality.

According to the decision of the Higher Attestation Commission of Ukraine, since 1999 the journal has been included in the List of reviewed scientific specialized periodicals in the field of medicine for publication of results of theses competing for scientific degrees of the Candidate and Doctor of Science.

It is obligatory for each manuscript to be reviewed by two independent qualified specialists, thereby making it possible for the Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board to maintain a high level of publications. All the articles, except advertizing ones, are published free of charge.

Today the purpose of the journal has not changed at all; it consists in spreading urgent information about scientific research results and investigations in the field of traumatology, orthopaedics, prosthetics and related specialities, exchange of experience of medical practitioners on the journal pages, information about planned and held congresses and other scientific events, anniversaries and memorable dates of outstanding figures in the field.

From year to year the geography of publications expands and the number of subscribers increases. According to data for 2012, the circulation averaged 1,100 copies, the scope was 140 pages, the periodicity was once a quarter.

During all the years of existence of “Orthopaedics, Traumatology and Prosthetics” its founder and Editors-in-Chief (Sytenko M.I., Novachenko N.P., Korzh A.A., Korzh M.A.) preserve the conception, which was laid into the foundation when the journal was created. This periodical can be rightfully called the guardian and continuer of the unique tradition of the journal business, while the succession of the Editorial Board, Council and staff has made it possible to preserve the invariable style and status of the journal.