Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow (CiSE) 2026: Milestone Growth Toward SCIE Indexing

 

Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow (CiSE), the official ESCI- and Scopus-indexed journal of the Korean Shoulder and Elbow Society, is experiencing its strongest growth ever. As of May 2026, the journal has achieved record citation numbers, a highly selective editorial process, and over 90% international authorship—placing it firmly on track for SCIE indexing by 2027.

Annual Crossref citations surged from 116 (2021) to 767 (2025)—a nearly seven-fold increase. In Q1 2026 alone, 310 citations were recorded (April 15), with a daily rate of 2.95 (+40.5% vs. 2025). CiSE is projected to surpass 1,000 annual citations for the first time in 2026. The 2024 JIF was 1.7; internal modeling projects the 2025 JIF at approximately 2.5.

The acceptance rate declined from 67.3% (2021) to 27% (2025), approaching the 25% target. International authorship reached 90% in 2025 (up from 53% in 2021), with Q1 2026 at 90.3%.

The 2nd CiSE International Editorial Board Meeting (March 28, Busan) brought together six board members from the U.S., Türkiye, Singapore, Indonesia, and Taiwan—Edward McFarland, James S. Fitzsimmons, Kerem Bilsel, Teo Seow Hui, Erica Kholinne, and Liang-Tseng Kuo—for discussions on journal strategy and peer review. Dr. Kholinne received the Best Reviewer Award. The International Board now comprises 21 members from 16 countries.

Preparations have begun for the 30th anniversary commemorative issue (Vol. 31-1, March 2028), featuring historical reviews, former EIC contributions, and international board pieces. The Editorial Board invites researchers worldwide to submit their most innovative work to CiSE—where the future of shoulder and elbow surgery continues to be shaped.

Figure 1. The 2nd CiSE International Editorial Board Meeting dinner during the 2026 KSES Spring Congress in Busan. International board members from six countries and Korean editorial leadership gathered to discuss journal strategy and global collaboration.

Figure 2. CiSE Status Report & Future Vision presented at the 2nd International Editorial Board Meeting (March 28, 2026), highlighting key milestones, editorial board structure, and the 2028 SCIE indexing roadmap.