The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery (JOTACS) is a peer‑reviewed medical journal focusing on research, clinical practice, and education related to trauma, emergency surgery, and acute care surgery. It serves as the official publication of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST).
Publisher and Publication Details
- Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, an imprint of Wolters Kluwer.
- Country: United States.
- Frequency: Monthly.
- Established: 1961 (originally launched as Journal of Trauma); the title was changed to The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery in 2012 to reflect an expanded scope that includes acute care surgery.
- ISSN: Print 0099‑5949; electronic 1537‑1931.
- Language: English.
Scope and Content
JOTACS publishes original research articles, systematic reviews, meta‑analyses, clinical practice guidelines, case reports, and editorial material covering:
- Mechanisms and epidemiology of traumatic injury.
- Pre‑hospital and emergency medical services.
- Damage‑control surgery and definitive operative management.
- Critical care and postoperative recovery of trauma patients.
- Education, training, and simulation in trauma and acute care surgery.
Editorial Structure
The journal is overseen by an editor‑in‑chief and an international editorial board comprising experts in trauma, surgical critical care, and related disciplines. Manuscripts undergo a double‑blind peer‑review process to ensure scientific rigor and relevance.
Abstracting and Indexing
JOTACS is indexed in major bibliographic databases, including:
- PubMed/MEDLINE
- Science Citation Index Expanded (Web of Science)
- Scopus
- Embase
Impact and Metrics
According to the Journal Citation Reports released by Clarivate Analytics, the journal recorded an impact factor of approximately 4.1 for the 2022 reporting year. The journal’s CiteScore and other bibliometric indicators place it among the leading publications in the fields of trauma and surgical critical care.
Access and Availability
- Online Platform: Articles are available on the journal’s website and through the Wolters Kluwer Health portal.
- Open Access Options: Authors may choose a hybrid model, paying an article processing charge to make individual papers freely accessible.
- Archives: Content dating back to the journal’s inception is retained in digital archives and is accessible to subscribers and institutional libraries.
Related Society and Activities
As the AAST’s official journal, JOTACS publishes selected abstracts and proceedings from the association’s annual scientific meetings, as well as consensus statements and guidelines developed by AAST committees.
Notable Milestones
- 2012: Renaming to incorporate “Acute Care Surgery,” reflecting the evolving discipline that integrates trauma surgery with emergency general surgery and surgical critical care.
- Ongoing: Publication of the “AAST Trauma Guidelines,” which serve as authoritative references for clinical practice worldwide.
References
- Official website of The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Wolters Kluwer Health.
- American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) – Publications.
- Clarivate Analytics, Journal Citation Reports (2022).
All information presented reflects publicly available, verifiable data up to 2024.
