Abstract

The journal Acta Orthopaedica Belgica welcomes two new Editors in Chief, Luc De Smet and Olivier Barbier. They ensure the continuity of the mission of the journal, to publish high quality peerreviewed Orthopaedic articles. The submission process is under modernization. The journal will continue its paper version, although the number of annual issues will be decreased to four. The articles will remain as well available on line to the world Orthopaedic community. The Belgian societies of Orthopaedics and Traumatology are proud of the high standard of their official journal, the Acta Orthopaedica Belgica, through the constant efforts of the previous Editor in Chief, Roger Lemaire (since 1995) and the Associate Editors (since 2002) Guy Fabry, Staf Geens, and Michel Hoogmartens. Under their direction, the journal has become one of the leading Orthopaedic publications in the world. The Acta Orthopaedica Belgica receives now contributions from the whole Orthopaedic world (in 2012, 93% of the submitted manuscripts came from 45 countries other than Belgium) and has become very selective in the acceptance of selected high level original articles (rejection rate in 2012 : 79%). The high quality of the journal is reflected by the progressive increase of its impact factor (0.629 in 2012 ; 5-year impact factor : 0.761). The Belgian societies are very thankful to the previous very experienced and hard working Editor in Chief, Roger Lemaire, and to his close colleagues, members of the Editorial Board.