Accuracy of references in the orthopaedic literature.

The accuracy of reference lists in scientific papers is important. Inaccuracy reflects both upon the paper and its authors, and the journal in which the article is published. The reader must be able to retrieve the original of any reference cited in support of a point made, in order to assess independently the validity of the latter. Similarly, the reader wishing to read more widely on a subject mentioned in a paper may use the reference list as a guide. In this case, the reference must be accurate so that the reader can decide whether it is to be sought and read. The author of a paper has a moral duty to ensure the accuracy of citations as well as the validity and scientific rigour of his or her own work. Although several specialties have audited the accuracy of references cited in their journals, we are not aware of such a review of the orthopaedic literature. We have examined four major orthopaedic journals, the British and American editions of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research and Acta Orthopaedica Scandinavica, for inaccuracies in the listed references, and assessed the potential impact of any such errors found.