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Guidelines for Authors

With kindly permission of Robert K. Jackler, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Otology & Neurotology

formerly The American Journal of Otology

Scope: Otology & Neurotology publishes original articles relating to both clinical and basic science aspects of otology, neurotology, and skull base surgery. Special features include a clinical forum to discuss controversial patient management issues, brief communications on emerging technology and technical surgical issues, historical issues, and occasional state-of-the-art reviews. Editorials on subjects of current interest are welcome, but are best discussed with the Editor-in-Chief prior to submission.

Manuscript Preparation and Format: Manuscripts are sent to reviewers blinded; therefore, do not include authors names or institutions on text pages or on figures. The authors names and institutional affiliations should appear only on the title page and on the submission letter. Nonconforming manuscripts (e.g., improper format, excessive length) may be returned for technical revision prior to undergoing peer review.

General Format: The entire manuscript (title page, abstract, text, references, tables, legends) must be typed or printed double-spaced on one side of white bond paper 8-1/2 x 11 inches or the A4 size with no handwritten corrections. Each element of the manuscript -title page, abstract, text, references, tables, legends -should begin on a new page. All pages should be numbered. The author should keep a copy of all materials submitted.

Title Page: Includes manuscript title, short running head, author name(s) and degrees, institutional affiliation (including department, city, state), acknowledgments (e.g., funding sources). Designate a corresponding author and provide contact information (full address, telephone, and fax).

Structured Abstract: A concise abstract of not more than 250 words is required for all original clinical and basic science contributions, including review articles. To facilitate their rapid assimilation, these should be organized according to the headings outlined below. No references should be included in the abstract.

For clinical studies:

Objective: Brief, clear statement of the main goals of the investigation.

Study design: Specify the type of study-randomized, prospective double blind; retrospective case review; etc.

Setting: Primary care vs. tertiary referral center; ambulatory vs. hospital; etc.

Patients: Primary eligibility criteria and key demographic features.

Intervention(s): Diagnostic, therapeutic, and/or rehabilitative.

Main outcome measure(s): The most essential criterion that addresses the study’s central hypothesis.

Results: Include statistical measures where appropriate.

Conclusions: Include only those directly supported by data generated from this study.

For basic science reports:

Hypothesis: Brief, clear statement of the main goals of the investigation.

Background: Concise orientation for the reader unfamiliar with this line of investigation.

Methods: Succinct summary of techniques and materials employed.

Results: Include statistical measures where appropriate.

Conclusions: Include only those directly supported by data generated from this study. Emphasize clinical relevance wherever possible.

For reviews and meta-analysis:

Objective: Brief, clear statement of the goals of the review.

Data sources: Specify database, search methodology, languages covered, and time frame.

Study selection: Criteria used to select articles for detailed review.

Data extraction: Means of assessing quality, validity, and comparability of extracted data.

Data synthesis: Specify statistical techniques used for data analysis.

Conclusions: Concise statement of primary inferences with any recommendations.

Tables: Each table must be on a separate page, double-spaced, and cited in numeric order in the text. Each table must have a brief title, and footnotes should appear below the main table text. Do not use vertical rules in the tables and use a minimum of horizontal rules. Define all abbreviations.

Figures and Legends: Unmounted 5 x 7-inch glossy prints are required. The figures are to be cited in the text in numeric order. Each figure must be clearly labeled on its reverse side, with the name of the paper and figure number, but no author names. Submit four collated sets of figures. Original figures will not be returned. An original set of publication-quality (glossy) figures accompanied by three photocopies for review purposes is acceptable only if the copies are of excellent quality. Color illustrations are welcome, but authors must pay the processing costs. Legends must be typed together, double-spaced, on a separate page (placed after the references) and numbered to match the figure numbers. For photomicrographs, indicate stain and magnification.

References: These must be numbered consecutively according to the order of their citation in the text. Use numbers in parentheses for text citations. Personal communications and unpublished data may be cited as such in the text, but not listed in the references. When citing an article or book with more than three authors or editors, list the first three followed by et al. Journal titles should be abbreviated according to Index Medicus. Note the following examples of reference style for various types of sources.

  1. Standard journal article: Kletzer GR, Smith PG, McIntire LD, et al. Presentation and management of uncommon lesions of the middle ear. Am J Otol 1995;16:634-42.

  2. Book: Nadol JB, Schuknecht HF. Surgery of the ear and temporal bone. New York: Raven Press, 1993.

  3. Chapter in a book: Jackson CG, Woods CI, Chironis PN. Glomus jugulare tumors. In: Shekar LN, Janecka IP, eds. Surgery of cranial base tumors. New York: Raven Press, 1993:747­62.

  4. Journal article in press: Birman CS, Fagan PA. Medial canal stenosis-chronic steonosing external otitis. Am J Otology 1996 (in press).

Length: Manuscripts are to be no longer than six to seven published journal pages. As a general rule, this means that manuscripts are to be limited to approximately 15 to 18 double-spaced typewritten pages. Longer submissions will be considered, but will be accepted only when they possess exceptional merit.

Style: Dorland’s Medical Dictionary and Webster’s International Dictionary should be used as standard references. Scientific (generic) names for drugs should be used when possible. Copyright or trade names of drugs should be capitalized and placed in parentheses immediately after the name of the drug. The manufacturers of supplies and equipment cited in a manuscript should be cited in parentheses, along with the city (state) and country of the manufacturer. Units of measurement should be expressed in the metric system. Temperatures should be expressed in degrees Celsius. In general, the style should be patterned after the American Medical Association, Manual of Style, 8th ed., 1989, published by the American Medical Association, 535 N. Dearborn St., Chicago, IL 60610.

Manuscript on Disk: Otology & Neurotology encourages authors to submit manuscript on disk. Lippincott-Williams & Wilkins Publishers will accept submission of electronic versions of manuscripts in conjunction with the traditional paper version. The preferred storage medium is a 31/2 inch disk in an MS-DOS-compatible format. Files in a MacIntosh-compatible format will also be accepted. The preferred word processing format is WordPerfect. Files can also be submitted in Microsoft Word, WordStar, or XyWrite. While we can convert from other word processing formats, the vagaries of the conversion process may introduce errors. Do not submit ASCII text files. Each submitted disk must be clearly labeled with the name of the author, item title, journal title, type of equipment used to generate the disk, word processing program (including version number), and filenames used. The file submitted on disk must be the final corrected version of the manuscript and must agree with the final accepted version of the submitted paper manuscript. The disk submitted must contain only the final version of the manuscript. Delete all other material from the disk. Note, however, that while the paper version of the manuscript must be presented in the traditional double-spaced format, the electronic version will be typeset and is not to contain any extraneous formatting instructions.

Illustrations will be handled conventionally (on paper). However, figure and table legends and tables must be included at the end of the electronic file. Nonstandard characters (Greek letters, mathematical symbols, etc.) must be coded consistently throughout the text. Please make a list of such characters and provide a listing of the codes used.

Proofs and Reprints: Authors will be supplied with page proofs to check accuracy of typesetting. Authors may be charged for alterations to proofs beyond those needed to correct typesetting errors. Proofs must be checked carefully and returned within three days of receipt.

A reprint order form will be sent to the corresponding author along with the proofs. Those wishing to order reprints must return this form with payment or a purchase order number when returning corrected proofs. Reprints are normally shipped six to eight weeks after publication of the issue in which the item appears.

Proofs, reprint orders, and all inquiries concerning items in production should be sent to The Otology & Neurotology , Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Publishers, 530 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106-3621.

Permissions: The author is responsible for obtaining written permission to reproduce previously published material (direct quotations, tables, or figures) from the copyright holder. Written consent must be obtained for all patient photographs when the possibility of identification exists, or subjects eyes will be blocked out. Where appropriate, approval of the local institutional review board must be cited. For those authors who do not have formal review boards, a statement that the principles outlined in the Declaration of Helsinki (Bulletin of the Pan American Health Organization 1990; 24: 606-609) should be submitted.

Minimal Reporting Guidelines: Otology & Neurotology requires that a uniform format for data presentation be utilized for certain subject areas where well recognized standards have been developed. The goal of this policy is to facilitate interstudy comparability by future investigators and thus to permit more meaningful meta-analysis. The data sets required are intended to serve only as a minimum. It is not the intention of this policy to discourage innovative data interpretations or the use of novel presentation formats. Authors are still welcome to present their data in any format they consider valid and informative, so long as data is also included in the standardized format.

Minimum Reporting Standards Adopted by Otology & Neurotology (1)

Grading of facial nerve function (2)

Evaluation of therapy in Meniere’s disease (3)

Results of treatment for conductive hearing loss (4)

Hearing preservation following acoustic neuroma surgery (5)

  1. Jackler RK. Comparability in Reporting Outcomes: A Scientific Imperative. Am J Otol 1996:17:811-12.

  2. House JW, Brackmann DE. Facial nerve grading system. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1985:93:146-47.

  3. Guidelines for the diagnosis and evaluation of therapy in Meniere’s disease. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1995;113:181-85.

  4. Guidelines for the evaluation and results of treatment of conductive hearing loss. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1995;113:186-87.

  5. Guidelines for the evaluation of hearing preservation in acoustic neuroma (vestibular schwannoma). Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1995;113:179-80.

Copyright Transmittal: Manuscripts are received with the understanding that they are not under simultaneous consideration by another publication and that they are original contributions that have not been previously published. Accepted manuscripts become the permanent property of Otology & Neurotology and may not be published elsewhere without permission from The Otology & Neurotology, Inc. A copyright transfer transmittal form will be sent to the corresponding author. This form must be signed and dated by all authors of the manuscript before the article is published.

Author Responsibility/Financial Disclosure: The author is responsible for disclosing any financial interest in any commercial products (or their competitors).

Letters to the Editor: Letters to the Editor are sent to the manuscript authors for their response and then published at the discretion of the editor.

Clinical Forum/Emerging Technology/Technical Tips/State of the Art Review: If interested in contributing an article for any of the above sections, contact the editorial office for further direction.

Checklist Before You Submit a Manuscript

___ Original manuscript plus 3 copies

___ 4 sets of clearly labeled figures (no author names)

___ Manuscript on computer disk labeled with computer type and word processing program

___ Manuscript double spaced throughout, including references, tables, and figure legends

___ Author identification on title page only, nowhere else on manuscript

___ Designate a corresponding author and provide detailed contact information

___ References in proper format, numbered sequentially according to appearance in text

___ Letter of submission

___ Permission to reproduce any copyrighted materials or patient likeness

___ Acknowledgments for technical assistance and grant support

___ Disclosure of any conflict of interest

 

Address of Editor-in-Chief of Otology & Neurotology (formerly The American Journal of Otology):

Robert K. Jackler, MD

Editor-in-Chief

Otology & Neurotology

120 Hazel Ave.

Mill Valley, CA 94941 USA

415-383-5043 (voice)

415-383-7042 (fax)

rkj<\@>itsa.ucsf.edu

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