Academic and Demographic Characteristics of Orthopaedic Journal Editors-in-Chief

Diversity within medical research has been shown to improve academic impact and productivity. In orthopaedic surgery, research plays a critical role in shaping clinical practice and advancing the field. Editors-in-chiefs (EICs) of academic journals greatly influence the direction of research, making their demographic and professional characteristics significant. This study aimed to evaluate the demographic, academic, and leadership profiles of EICs from the top 50 orthopaedic journals.

Orthopaedic journals were identified from the 2022 Journal Citation Reports and ranked by 5-year impact factor. Information regarding the EICs was obtained from journal websites, including demographics, academic rank, fellowship completion, and leadership roles. Data were collected using publicly available online resources. Hirsch index (H-index) data were obtained from Scopus. Statistical analysis was performed to report frequencies and means of the collected variables.

Of 50 journals, 46 were included in the analysis, accounting for 58 EICs. The mean 5-year impact factor was 3.8 ± 1.2. Most EICs were Caucasian (84.5%) and male (89.7%). The median H-index was 47 (interquartile range, 30.5-70), and the mean of years since fellowship completion was 26.0 ± 9.2. Most EICs (86.2%) held the academic rank of Professor, and 74.1% held a medical degree (M.D.). Fellowship specialties varied, with spine and adult reconstruction being the most common. In addition, 53% of EICs held leadership positions (professor, department chair, etc.) within their institutions, and 39.7% had served as society presidents.

This study highlights the significant academic accomplishments of EICs in leading orthopaedic journals but also reveals a lack of racial and gender diversity. Promoting diversity in leadership positions is essential to fostering greater inclusivity in the field of orthopaedic surgery. Further efforts are needed to address these disparities and encourage diverse representation.