RESUMO
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the equality between author key words used in the Journal of the Korean Orthopaedic Association and controlled vocabulary or medical subject headings (MeSH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 1,058 English key words in 320 papers (average 3.3 words in a paper) from 2009 to 2012 were eligible for this study. We classified them according to matched, partially matched, and non-matched terms. The partially matched terms were further dissected into entry terms, qualifiers, anteriorly or posteriorly matched, abbreviations, and pleurals. After descriptive analysis, we assayed patterns of errors in using MeSH, and reviewed frequently used non-MeSH terms. RESULTS: The rate of matched terms was 23.5% for an average of four years, and 34.8% for 2013, which is on the rise by year. The rate of partially matched terms was 34.8%, and that of non-matched terms was 41.7% for an average of four years. The most frequently used key words were Knee and Total knee arthroplasty (17 times), followed by Osteoarthritis (9), Femur, Hip, and Total hip arthroplasty (8). CONCLUSION: Use of proper keywords aligned with the international standards such as MeSH is important to be properly cited. The authors should pay attention and be educated on correct use of MeSH as key words.