2017 IOJ EDITORS’ NOTE It is with great pleasure that we present the 37th edition of the Iowa Orthopedic Journal (IOJ). This year has been a remarkably successful edition, as we have transitioned the journal to a modern electronic submission process which has streamlined both the submission of articles and improved the quality and efficiency of the review process. Based on the record number of submissions and interest this year, we will be transitioning the journal from an annual publication to a biannual publication. We are hopeful that the ongoing PubMed exposure as well as the streamlined submission process will continue to increase the IOJ readership and promote ongoing growth. Since the inception of the Iowa Orthopedic Journal in 1981, the IOJ has had steady increase in its recognition, prestige, and the number of citations attributed to published articles. All articles published in the Iowa Orthopedic Journal are indexed in PubMed and freely available to anyone in the world. The impact factor of the Iowa Orthopedic Journal has continued to increase over time, from 0.18 in 1999 to 1.0 in recent years, and we hope for this trend to continue to increase over time. We would like to acknowledge the graduating senior residents Drs. Kyle Duchman, Matthew Hogue, Joshua Holt, Daniel Koehler, Nathan Nicholson, and Zachary Ries. During their five years at Iowa they have contributed greatly to a culture of quiet excellence while providing leadership by example. We will miss their guidance, and wish them the best as they head off to fellowship and their future careers. The IOJ would not be possible without the help of the residents and faculty in the Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation. The residents are responsible for reviewing the articles thoroughly, suggesting revisions, and recommending publication decisions to the editors. Dr. Chike Akoh deserves recognition for securing corporate sponsorship for the journal to help fund publication. Ms. Teagan Von Seggern deserves special recognition for taking on the new role of Executive Publisher as we transitioned to in-house publication. We would also like to thank the faculty advisor, Dr. Jose Morcuende, for his continued guidance and support. Finally, we would like to thank our wives Le Gholson and Jaymie Elkins, as well as our families, who have been endlessly patient and supportive as we have pursued excellence in research, scholarship, and clinical care.

It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as the editors of the 37th edition of the Iowa Orthopedic Journal. The University of Iowa continues to be a beacon of excellence in orthopedic training, and we are humbled to have been given the opportunity to train here and contribute to its legacy. We genuinely hope the readers enjoy reading this year’s publication of our Iowa Orthopedic Journal. Sincerely, J. Joseph Gholson Jacob M. Elkins Co-Editors in Chief Iowa Orthopedic Journal Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics

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