Best open-access journals for Surgery

1. 1
   Lipids in Health and Disease

   6.3 cites/paper · Q1 · BioMed Central

   Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
2. 2
   Journal of Orthopaedic Translation

   6.1 cites/paper · Q1 · Elsevier BV

   Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
3. 3
   World Journal of Emergency Surgery

   4.7 cites/paper · Q1 · BioMed Central

   Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
4. 4
   Neurospine

   3.8 cites/paper · Q1 · Korean Spinal Neurosurgery Society

   Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
5. 5
   Drug Design Development and Therapy

   3.6 cites/paper · Q1 · Dove Medical Press

   Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
6. 6
   Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

   3.3 cites/paper · Q1 · Springer Nature

   Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
7. 7
   Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research

   3.1 cites/paper · Q1 · BioMed Central

   Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
8. 8
   BJS Open

   3.1 cites/paper · Q1 · Wiley

   Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
9. 9
   Cell Transplantation

   3.1 cites/paper · Q1 · SAGE Publishing

   Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
10. 10
    Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology

    3.0 cites/paper · Q1 · Elsevier BV

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
11. 11
    Transplant International

    2.8 cites/paper · Q1 · Springer Science+Business Media

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
12. 12
    Bone and Joint Research

    2.7 cites/paper · Q1 · Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
13. 13
    Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology

    2.6 cites/paper · Q1 · SAGE Publishing

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
14. 14
    Acta Orthopaedica

    2.5 cites/paper · Q1 · Taylor & Francis

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
15. 15
    The Korean journal of pain

    2.4 cites/paper · Q1 · The Korean Pain Society

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
16. 16
    Gut and Liver

    2.3 cites/paper · Q1 · Korean Association for the Study of the Liver

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
17. 17
    Korean journal of anesthesiology

    2.3 cites/paper · Q1 · Korean Society of Anesthesiologists

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
18. 18
    Orthopaedic Surgery

    2.2 cites/paper · Q1 · Wiley

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
19. 19
    Annals of Rehabilitation Medicine

    2.1 cites/paper · Q1 · Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
20. 20
    Arthroscopy Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation

    2.0 cites/paper · Q1 · Elsevier BV

    Open AccessDOAJScopusPubMed
21. 21
    Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery

    2.0 cites/paper · Q1 · Korean Orthopaedic Association

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
22. 22
    Asian Spine Journal

    1.9 cites/paper · Q1 · Korean Spine Society

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
23. 23
    Global Spine Journal

    1.8 cites/paper · Q1 · SAGE Publishing

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
24. 24
    Journal of Experimental Orthopaedics

    1.8 cites/paper · Q1 · Springer Nature

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
25. 25
    Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology

    1.8 cites/paper · Q1 · Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
26. 26
    Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow

    1.8 cites/paper · Q1

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
27. 27
    International Wound Journal

    1.8 cites/paper · Q1 · Wiley

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
28. 28
    Arthroplasty Today

    1.6 cites/paper · Q1 · Elsevier BV

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
29. 29
    The International Journal of Spine Surgery

    1.2 cites/paper · Q1 · CIG Media Group

    Open AccessScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
30. 30
    Journal of ISAKOS Joint Disorders & Orthopaedic Sports Medicine

    1.2 cites/paper · Q1 · Elsevier BV

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
31. 31
    Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine

    1.2 cites/paper · Q1 · SAGE Publishing

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
32. 32
    Digestive and Liver Disease

    1.0 cites/paper · Q1 · Elsevier BV

    Open AccessScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
33. 33
    JAAOS Global Research and Reviews

    1.0 cites/paper · Q1 · Wolters Kluwer

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
34. 34
    Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery Global Open

    0.9 cites/paper · Q1 · Wolters Kluwer

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
35. 35
    Journal of Vascular Surgery Venous and Lymphatic Disorders

    0.9 cites/paper · Q1 · Elsevier BV

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
36. 36
    JSES International

    0.7 cites/paper · Q1 · Elsevier BV

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
37. 37
    European Surgical Research

    2.8 cites/paper · Q2 · Karger Publishers

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
38. 38
    Medicina

    2.6 cites/paper · Q2 · Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
39. 39
    Clinics and Practice

    2.4 cites/paper · Q2 · PAGEPress (Italy)

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed
40. 40
    BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

    2.4 cites/paper · Q2 · BioMed Central

    Open AccessDOAJScopusWeb of SciencePubMed

“Cites/paper” is the OpenAlex 2-year citation rate — a transparent signal, not a licensed Impact Factor. Many regional and open-access journals are strong but aren’t covered by Scimago, so they show “no Scimago quartile”; that’s a coverage gap, not a quality judgement.