There are several cascade options available for manuscripts that do not quite meet the threshold for acceptance in the original journal they were submitted to, but that may be a good fit for another JBJS journal.
Transfers from JBJS
Manuscripts submitted to the flagship JBJS may be offered a transfer to one of two journals:
JBJS to JBJS Open Access
JBJS Open Access (OA) accepts transfers for Scientific Articles (Randomized Controlled Trials, Observational Studies, Basic Science Studies, Survey Studies) and Review Articles (Current Concepts Reviews, Evidence-Based Systematic Reviews). Note that Perspective-type articles (Viewpoints, Innovations, etc.) are only able to be published in JBJS and cannot be offered a transfer to another JBJS journal.
The options for JBJS to OA transfers include:
Offer Transfer to OA (Immediate Acceptance)
A manuscript granted this decision will be automatically transferred and accepted in OA if the authors accept the offer, without any further review or revisions. In most cases, this decision is used only for articles that have already undergone at least one revision, but were not originally offered a transfer. This is a rare circumstance.
Offer Transfer to OA (Pending Revision)
A manuscript granted this decision will need to be revised according to the editor and reviewer comments before the transfer can be completed. This decision term has a unique workflow where the JBJS handling Editor, after the authors accept a transfer offer, continues to manage the peer review process in JBJS until the manuscript reaches a level of quality acceptable for publication in OA. This is done to preserve the history of the original JBJS submission and to avoid duplicating the review process.
Authors are informed of “Provisional Acceptance,” in OA, indicating that the manuscript will most likely be accepted for publication, assuming their revisions are satisfactory. As such, Editors should not offer this transfer decision lightly; if a manuscript may have fatal flaws that cannot be resolved through revision, the manuscript should instead be rejected.
Once the authors submit their revisions, there are two further decisions:
- Further Revisions Needed Prior to OA Publication: Most of the necessary revisions have been completed, but several issues still need to be addressed.
- Ready for OA: All necessary revisions have been completed, and the manuscript is ready to be accepted for publication in OA.
Transfer to OA without Review
A manuscript granted this decision has not undergone review in JBJS. If the authors accept the offer, the manuscript will be automatically transferred and the OA Editors will send it out for review.
JBJS to JBJS Reviews
JBJS Reviews accepts transfers for Review Articles (Current Concepts Reviews, Evidence-Based Systematic Reviews). This transfer pathway follows a simpler workflow than transfers to OA. Both decision terms follow the below workflow.
Reject with REV Offer
Rejected after reviews have been completed. When the manuscript is transferred, the authors are given the opportunity to revise. Manuscripts may or may not undergo subsequent rounds of review, depending on the Reviews Editor’s preference.
Reject without Review with REV Offer
Desk-rejected manuscript that will instead undergo peer review in Reviews if the authors agree to the transfer.
Transfers from Case Connector
Manuscripts submitted to Case Connector may be transferred to the JBJS Journal of Orthopaedics for Physician Assistants (JOPA). JOPA and CC are the only JBJS journals that publish case reports. Both decision terms follow the below workflow.
Reject with JOPA Offer
Rejected after reviews have been completed. When the manuscript is transferred, the authors are given the opportunity to revise. Manuscripts may or may not undergo subsequent rounds of review, depending on the JOPA Editor’s preference.
Reject without Review with JOPA Offer
Desk-rejected manuscript that will instead undergo peer review in JOPA if the authors agree to the transfer.
Transfers from Reviews
All manuscripts rejected from Reviews are sent by the Editorial Office to the OA and JOPA Editors for review. If they would like to offer the authors a transfer to their journal, the Editorial Office will update the decision term and letter for the submission. All rejections follow the below workflow.
