The hundred most-cited publications in orthopaedic knee research

Multiligamentous Knee Injury: A Scientometric Assessment of Global Publications During 2008-2023

Background

Research and clinical studies on multiligamentous knee injuries (MLKI) have recently gained interest with several clinical studies reported recently. This study aims to identify, visualize, and characterize the MLKI research, to analyze the knowledge structure of MLKI during 2008-2023 and to identify the emerging research trends from a bibliometric perspective.

Methods

All articles reporting MLKI from 2008 to 2023 were curated from the Scopus database, on 1st January 2024. VOS viewer and Microsoft Excel were used to analyze the publications including the participating countries, authors, organizations, journals and research focus. These data were used to generate visual knowledge maps of the outputs.

Results

406 papers on MLKI were published in 115 journals by 483 authors. There has been a slow publication growth in the past 16 years. The United States had more than 50% share in global publications. Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy, Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine and American Journal of Sports Medicine published the most papers. The three USA institutions, namely Mayo Clinic, Hospital for Special Surgery-New York and Twin Cities Orthopedics contributed the largest number of publications. B.A. Levy (Mayo Clinic, USA) (n = 66) and M.J. Stuart (Mayo Clinic, USA) (n = 63) have registered the highest collaborative links with other authors.

Conclusions

This study is the first comprehensive bibliometric study to analyze MLKI. The findings shed light on the growth trajectory of publications, the extent of international collaborations, the influence of highly cited articles, and the key countries, institutions, journals, and authors contributing to the field.

Graphical Abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s43465-024-01149-9.

Top 100 Most Cited Articles on Intraoperative Image-Guided Navigation in Spine Surgery

Navigation technologies have become essential in spine surgery over the last decade, offering precise procedures and minimizing risks. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first bibliometric analysis on this topic, providing insights and trends on topics, authors, and journals. The study identifies and analyzes the 100 most cited articles related to navigation in spine surgery. A systematic search was performed in Scopus and Google Scholar to identify all articles related to navigation in spine surgery (38,057 articles). The 100 most cited were analyzed for citations, titles, abstracts, authors, affiliations, keywords, country and institute of origin, year of publication, and level of evidence. The search was conducted in October 2023. The 100 most cited articles were published between 1995 and 2019, with 2010 to 2019 being the most prolific decade (46%). The most cited article had 733 citations, and the paper with the most citations per year averaged 59.27 citations/year. The Spine Journal had the most articles (34%). The United States contributed the most articles (39%). Most publications were clinical research and reviews (94%), with an overall evidence grade of IV-V (63%). A positive trend was noted in the last decade for incorporating augmented reality. This bibliometric analysis offers valuable insights and trends in spine surgery navigation literature. The findings indicate that technological advancements have led to more articles with higher levels of evidence. These pivotal articles shape evidence-based medicine, future surgeons, and industry improvements in navigated spine surgery.

Top 100 cited articles related to EUS: A bibliometric analysis

Background and Objectives

Citation analysis is a fundamental method in bibliometrics for quantifying the impact and contribution of articles on a specific biomedical field. The purpose of our study was to identify and analyze the top 100 cited articles in the field of EUS.

Methods

All published articles in the field of EUS were searched by using "endoscopic ultrasound" and its synonyms as the search terms without time limit. The Institute for Scientific Information Web of Science Core database was searched to determine the citations. The top 100 cited articles were identified and further evaluated for characteristics including publication year, authors, journals, impact factor, countries, institutions, article type, topic term, and evidence grade, among others.

Results

A total of 430 articles were cited more than 100 times. The 100 most-cited articles were published between 1988 and 2018, and the medium citation was 240.5 (104.25). The top 100 cited articles mainly focused on diagnostic performance (80%) and interventional therapy (20%). The numbers of articles studying the diagnostic accuracy of FNA (n = 29) and tumor diagnosis (n = 29) were the highest among research articles on FNA and EUS of diagnostic categories, and EUS transluminal drainage (n = 14) was the most frequently used EUS technique for therapy. The focus of the majority of the articles was on diseases of pancreas (n = 55), and among the 55 articles related to pancreatic diseases, pancreatic cancer (n = 17) and solid pancreatic masses (n = 13) were the most researched topics. In addition, we found that the proportions of diagnostic and treatment-related articles at different time periods have statistical significance (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our analysis provides an insight into the top 100 articles in the field of EUS, revealing EUS-guided FNA, tumor staging, and transluminal drainage as the major advances in the past 35 years. Pancreatic diseases were the most researched, especially pancreatic cancer or solid pancreatic masses. Our research has found that the number of articles on the application of EUS treatment has significantly increased.

Global research hotspots and trends on robotic surgery in obstetrics and gynecology: a bibliometric analysis based on VOSviewer

Objective

Over the last two decades, the quantity of papers published in relation to robotic surgery in obstetrics and gynecology has continued to grow globally. However, no bibliometric analysis based on VOSviewer has been performed to evaluate the past and present of global research in the field. In this study, we aimed to analyze the bibliometric characteristics of papers on robotic surgery in obstetrics and gynecology to reveal research hotspots and trends in this field.

Methods

The Web of Science Core Collection was searched for scientific papers on robotic surgery in obstetrics and gynecology published between January 1, 1998 and December 31, 2023. Bibliometric metadata of each selected paper was extracted for analysis. The results were visualized by VOSviewer (version 1.6.18).

Results

A total of 1,430 papers met the inclusion criteria. The United States had the highest total link strengths and contributed the most papers (n = 793). The Mayo Clinic produced the largest number of papers (n = 85), and Professor Pedro T Ramirez contributed the most papers (n = 36). The number of citations ranged from 0 to 295 with a total sum of 29,103. The Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology published the most relevant papers (n = 252). Keywords were classified into six clusters based on co-occurrence data, of which cluster 1, cluster 4 and cluster 6 had more main keywords with the largest average publication year.

Conclusions

This is the first VOSviewer-based bibliometric analysis of robotic surgery research in obstetrics and gynecology. The United States was the leading country, and the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology was the most productive journal in the field. Scientists and institutions from around the world should push their boundaries to bring about deep collaboration. The main research topic has always been the use of robotic surgery in the treatment of gynecologic malignancies. More randomized controlled trials need to be conducted to compare surgical outcomes of robotic surgery with other surgical approaches. Robotic sacrocolpopexy for pelvic organ prolapse has become a new research hotspot, and robotic surgery for sentinel lymph node detection in gynecologic malignancies are more potential directions for future research.

The Most-Cited Publications in Gender-Affirming Surgery: A Cross-Sectional Bibliometric Analysis

Background: Gender-affirming surgery is becoming more common among reconstructive surgeons. Bibliometric analyses are statistical evaluations of published scientific correspondence and are a validated method of measuring influence in the scientific community. As no such bibliometric analysis has been done as of yet, the purpose of this study is to identify the characteristics of the 50 most-cited peer-reviewed articles on gender-affirming surgery. Methods: The Scopus abstract and citation database was utilized in April 2020 to search for English-language publications related to gender-affirming surgery. The 50 most-cited publications that met inclusion criteria were reviewed for various metric tabulations. Results: The 50 publications have been cited a total of 4402 times. Thirty-one (62%) were published in 2000 or later. Phalloplasty was the most discussed surgical technique, and 18 of the articles focused on female-to-male (FtM) patients. Case series (46%) and review articles (24%) were most common and there were no Level I or Level II studies. The Netherlands contributed the most, with 13 articles. Among the most frequent keywords in the 50 abstracts were "flap" and "complication". The earliest author keywords used were "transsexual" and "sex reassignment". Conclusions: The keyword usage in these abstracts over time seems to follow the trend of a more socially inclusive lexicon. A focus on studies with a higher level of evidence may optimize surgeon education and more appropriately guide clinical practice. This study reveals that the most influential and commonly referenced studies may not be sufficient to appropriately guide clinical practices.

The 50 Most Cited Publications in Adipose-Derived "Stem Cell Therapies" with Application in Orthopaedic Surgery

Stem cell therapies have become widely popular in orthopaedic surgery, with a recent interest in adipose-derived therapeutics. Adipose-derived mesenchymal signaling cells (ADSCs) and micronized adipose tissue (MAT) are unique therapies derived from different processing methods. Characterizing the most influential studies in lipoaspirate research can help clarify controversies in definitions, identify core literature, and further collective knowledge for educational purposes. The Science Citation Index Expanded subsection of the Web of Science Core Collection was systematically searched to identify the top 50 most cited publications (based on citation/year) on orthopaedic ADSCs or MAT research. Publication and study characteristics were extracted and reported using descriptive statistics. Level of evidence was assessed for applicable studies, and Spearman correlations were calculated to assess the relationship between citation data and level of evidence. The top 50 articles were published between the years 2003 and 2020, with 78% published in the year 2010 or later. The mean number of citations was 103.1 ± 81.1. The mean citation rate was 12.4 ± 6.0 citations per year. Of the 21 studies for which level of evidence was assessed, the majority were level III (10, 47.6%). The single study design most common among the top 50 cited articles was in vitro basic science studies (17 studies, 34%). Twenty-nine articles (58%) were classified as basic science or translational. Application to treat knee osteoarthritis was the most common focus of studies (14 studies, 28%), followed by in vitro analysis of growth factor and cell signaling markers (11 studies, 22%). No correlation was found between rank, citation rate, or year of publication and level of evidence. This study provides a current landscape on the most cited articles in lipoaspirates in orthopaedic surgery. With the expansion of ADSCs and MAT in the past two decades, this study provides the first historical landmark of the literature and a launching point for future research. Studies should explicitly state their processing methodology and whether their study investigates ADSCs or MAT to avoid misinformation.

The 50 Most Cited Publications on Concentrated Bone Marrow Aspirate with Application in Orthopaedic Surgery

Concentrated bone marrow aspirate (cBMA) has garnered widespread and increasing attention in recent years. We aimed to characterize the most influential articles in cBMA research while clarifying controversies surrounding its use and clinical efficacy and identifying important areas on which to focus future research efforts. The Science Citation Index Expanded subsection of the Web of Science Core Collection was systematically searched to identify the top 50 most cited publications on orthopaedic cBMA research. Publication and study characteristics were extracted, and Spearman's correlations were calculated to assess the relationship between citation data and level of evidence. The top 50 articles were published between the years 1996 and 2018, with 58% published in the year 2010 or later. Of the 29 studies for which level of evidence was assessed, the majority were Level IV (24, 83%). Twenty-one articles (42%) were classified as basic science or translational (9 cell culture, 8 animal study, and 4 using human blood samples). Application to treat cartilage defects was the most common focus of studies (17 studies, 34%), followed by analysis of cBMA composition (14 studies, 28%). No correlation was found between rank, citation rate, or year of publication and level of evidence. The most influential articles on cBMA are recent and consist of a majority low level of evidence studies. Cohort studies were the most common study type among the top 50 most cited articles, while basic science articles were relatively less common. These results suggest a rapidly evolving field with the potential to better explain inconsistent clinical results with improved understanding and documentation of basic science concepts in addition to large-scale, prospective clinical trials. Orthobiologics especially cBMA holds great promise for the future, and higher level clinical trials will help better define the best clinical uses for this treatment.

The 50 most-cited articles in reverse shoulder arthroplasty

Background

Citation analyses have been used to understand the impact that a group of publications has on its field. As the techniques and indications of reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA) continue to expand, it is important to identify articles that can orient readers to the history, evolution, and current status of the body of RTSA literature. The purpose of this study was to identify and analyze the 50 most-cited articles related to RTSA.

Methods

Various Boolean queries were searched on the Clarivate Analytics Web of Science. Information collected included author name, publication year, country of origin, journal name, article type, total number of citations, and level of evidence.

Results

Top 50 most-cited articles amassed a total of 10,521 citations. The most-cited article was cited a total of 766 times. The most common study designs were case series (28) and cohort studies (9). Authors from the United States (24) contributed the most to included papers, followed by France (19) and Switzerland (8).

Discussion

The most-cited articles on RTSA are expert opinions, case studies, and cohort studies published by American authors. As RTSA continues to grow over the next decade, studies with higher levels-of-evidence may overtake articles included in this analysis.

A Bibliometric Analysis of the Top 100 Most Influential Studies on Robotic Arthroplasty

Background

The use of robotics in arthroplasty surgery has increased substantially in recent years. The purpose of this study was to objectively identify the 100 most influential studies in the robotic arthroplasty literature and to conduct a bibliometric analysis of these studies to describe their key characteristics.

Methods

The Clarivate Analytics Web of Knowledge database was used to gather data and metrics for robotic arthroplasty research using Boolean queries. The search list was sorted in descending order by the number of citations, and articles were included or excluded based on clinical relevance to robotic arthroplasty.

Results

The top 100 studies were cited a total of 5770 times from 1997 to 2021, with rapid growth in both citation generation and the number of articles published occurring in the past 5 years. The top 100 robotic arthroplasty articles originated from 12 countries, with the United States being responsible for almost half of the top 100. The most common study types were comparative studies (36) followed by case series (20), and the most common levels of evidence were III (23) and IV (33).

Conclusions

Research on robotic arthroplasty is rapidly growing and originates from a wide variety of countries, academic institutions, and with significant industry influence. This article serves as a reference to direct orthopaedic practitioners to the 100 most influential studies in robotic arthroplasty. We hope that these 100 studies and the analysis we provide aid healthcare professionals in efficiently assessing consensus, trends, and needs within the field.

Bibliometric Analysis of the Top 50 Most Influential Studies on Patellar Tendon Injury

Background

There is a wide range of literature on patellar tendon injury, making it increasingly difficult to stay informed on the most influential studies in this field. It is essential to be familiar with the foundational articles of patellar tendon injury research to understand the current state of the literature and deliver high quality care.

Purpose

To objectively identify the 50 most influential articles relating to patellar tendon injury and conduct a bibliometric analysis to identify key features of these articles.

Study Design

Cross-sectional study.

Methods

The Clarivate Analytics Web of Knowledge database was utilized to gather metrics on the 50 most cited articles on patellar tendon injury on June 27, 2022. The information extracted from each article included publication year, number of citations, author information, article type, level of evidence, country of origin, journal name, study focus, and industry influence.

Results

The top 50 studies were cited a total of 8543 times and published between 1977 and 2015. The majority of articles were published after 2003, and the majority of citations were accrued after 2011. The most prevalent article types were cohort studies (n = 23), and the majority of studies were of evidence level 2 (n = 14) or 4 (n = 13). Australia and the United States (US) each published the most studies (n = 11). Only 4 (8%) studies focused on patellar tendon rupture, and 12 (24%) of the top 50 studies were associated with industry.

Conclusion

The majority of the top 50 most influential articles in patellar tendon injury were published and accumulated citations in the past 10 to 20 years. Non-US countries, institutions, and journals published many of the top 50 studies, reflecting a global interest and commitment to research in this field. Patellar tendon rupture and surgical repair represents a minority of research in the top 50 studies and could be a point of growth in the future.

The 100 top-cited articles in the field of Wilson's disease from 1990 to 2022: A bibliometric study

Objectives

To characterize the 100 most-cited articles in the field of Wilson's Disease (WD) to provide a general overview and reveal the historical developments classical studies, and new findings.

Design

WD-related articles were searched on the Web of Science database. The 100 most-cited articles were retrieved and their descriptive statistics were analyzed.

Data extraction and synthesis

The 100 most-cited articles in the field of WD were selected and several parameters, including citation count, citation density, first author, corresponding author, journal, country, institution, and keywords were extracted to assess the overall quality and impact of the articles.

Results

Most of the selected 100 articles were published in the 1990s and 2000s, with the highest number of articles published in 2005. Citations per paper ranged from 100 to 1,631, with a mean number of citations of 199.03. The top 100 articles were published in 38 journals, and the majority were published in the Journal of Biological Chemistry. The most prominent research themes were clinical presentations, clinical trials, copper transport mechanisms, and dysregulation of copper metabolism. Prof. Svetlana Lutsenko, Prof. Peter Ferenci, Prof. George J. Brewer, and Prof. Diane W. Cox were among the most influential researchers in this field, while Euro-American countries were the most dominant in terms of research output. Keywords network analysis identified "Transporting ATPase," "ATP7B," and "Menkes disease" as the most influential keywords. Moreover, disease management, WD clinical phenotype, ATP7B function, and copper metabolism are potential hotspots in future WD research.

Conclusions

This study reveals the most influential articles in the field of WD research. In addition, the major research themes and technological innovations in the field of WD worldwide are presented.

A Bibliometric Analysis of the Most Cited Research on Humeral Avulsions of the Glenohumeral Ligament: A Paucity of High-Level Evidence

Purpose

To identify the 25 most-cited articles on humeral avulsion of the glenohumeral ligament (HAGL) lesions and characterize them based on number of citations, citation density, source journal, year of publication, geographic origin, article type, and level of evidence.

Methods

The Science Citation Index Expanded database was queried for all possible publications regarding HAGL lesions. The 25 most-cited articles from 1976 to 2021 relevant to the topic were selected for further analysis. Articles were characterized based on the number of citations, citation density, year of publication, source journal, country of origin, article type, article subtype, and level of evidence.

Results

The number of citations for individual articles ranged from 21 to 182 (mean ± standard deviation: 44.72 ± 36.87). Ten countries contributed to the 25 most cited articles, with 14 of the 25 (56%) articles published in the United States. Furthermore, the top 25 cited articles were published in 9 journals, with the majority in Arthroscopy-The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery (n = 15, 60%). There were 15 (60%) articles classified as "Clinical," 9 (36%) as "Review/Expert Opinion," and 1 (4%) as "Basic Science." All clinical studies met the standard for level IV evidence.

Conclusions

This bibliometric analysis provides a list of the 25 most cited articles related to HAGL lesions, providing a reference of impactful articles for medical educators. The lack of high level of evidence "Clinical" studies demonstrates that higher-quality research is needed to establish guidelines for the treatment and management of HAGL lesions.

Clinical Relevance

A list of the 25 most-cited articles regarding recurrent glenohumeral instability can serve as a comprehensive reference for practitioners, educators, researchers, and orthopaedic trainees.

Bibliometric Analysis of the Top 50 Most Cited Studies on Achilles Tendon Pathology

Background

The development of Achilles tendon treatment modalities has been rapid, and it is increasingly difficult for clinicians to stay up to date with the most influential studies in this field. In order to fully understand the current state of the literature regarding Achilles tendon injury, it is invaluable to be familiar with the foundational articles and studies upon which the field is built.

Purpose

To objectively determine the 50 most frequently cited studies in Achilles tendon pathology and to conduct a bibliometric analysis.

Study Design

Cross-sectional study.

Methods

The Clarivate Analytics Web of Knowledge database was used to gather data and metrics of Achilles tendon research. The 50 most cited articles were selected for analysis from an initial 17,244 identified articles. The information extracted for each article included author name, publication year, country of origin, journal name, study type, and level of evidence.

Results

For these 50 studies, the total number of citations was calculated to be 13,159, with a mean of 263.2 citations per paper. The most cited article collected 657 citations. The publication dates of the 50 studies included in this analysis spanned 41 years (1972-2013). The largest number of articles were published by Swedish authors (n = 14); however, many other countries were represented, including Canada and Finland (n = 6 articles each). The most prevalent study designs were cohort studies (n = 13) with level 4 evidence studies being the most common (n = 14).

Conclusion

Among the 50 most influential articles in Achilles tendon pathology, the study designs most commonly used were cohort studies and review articles. Sweden was the country of origin for the most studies included on this list, which reflects this country's interest and commitment to researching Achilles tendon injuries and treatments.

Influential articles on shoulder arthroplasty: bibliometric analysis and visualized study

BACKGROUND

Shoulder arthroplasty has had increasing global demand, technical development, and research interest in the past few decades, with the publication of numerous articles. However, little is known about the characteristics and evaluation of these articles. Our objective was to study and analyze the top 100 cited articles in shoulder arthroplasty research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Publications on shoulder arthroplasty from inception to 2022 were retrieved from the Web of Science. The top 100 publications were defined by the number of citations, and their characteristics were recorded and analyzed. A visualized study of the articles was performed using VOSviewer software.

RESULTS

The top 100 cited articles were published between 1981 and 2018, with the 2000s the most productive decade. Citations per article ranged from 103 to 822. The countries with the most articles were the United States followed by France and Switzerland. Most of the articles were level III evidence. The keywords for the articles were primarily in 5 clusters: infection, fracture, osteoarthritis, perioperative complications, and prosthetic design.

CONCLUSIONS

The characteristics of influential articles on shoulder arthroplasty were thoroughly analyzed. Most studies focused on surgical techniques and perioperative complications with a relatively low level of evidence.

The Top 50 Most Cited Publications in Meniscus Research

Injuries to the menisci of the knee are common in orthopedic sports medicine. Bibliometric studies can identify the core literature on a topic and help further our collective knowledge for both clinical and educational purposes. The purpose of the current study was to (1) identify and describe the 50 most cited articles in meniscus research over an 80-year time period to capture a wide range of influential articles and (2) identify the "citation classics" and milestone articles related to the meniscus of the knee. The Science Citation Index Expanded subsection of the Web of Science Core Collection was systematically searched for the 50 most cited meniscus articles. Data pertaining to bibliometric and publication characteristics were extracted and reported using descriptive statistics. The top 50 articles were published between the years 1941 and 2014 and collectively cited 13,152 times. The median (interquartile [IQR]) number of total citations per article was 203.5 (167.0-261.8), while the median citation rate was 9.6 (7.4-13.9) citations per year. The most cited article was "Knee joint changes after meniscectomy," published in 1948. The article with the highest citation rate of 78.4 citations per year was "The long-term consequence of anterior cruciate ligaments and meniscus injuries - osteoarthritis," published in 2007. The majority of articles were clinical outcome studies (n = 28, 56%). The top 50 most cited meniscus articles represent a compilation of highly influential articles which may augment reading curriculums and provide a strong knowledge base for orthopaedic surgery residents and fellows. The decade with the most articles was the 2000s, representing a recent acceleration in meniscus-based research. This is a level IV, cross-sectional study.

The 50 Most Cited Papers Pertaining to American Football: Analysis of Studies From the Past 40 Years

Background

Bibliometric citation analyses have been widely used in medicine to help researchers gain foundational knowledge about a topic and identify subtopics of popular interest for further investigations.

Purpose

To identify the 50 most cited research publications related to American football.

Study Design

Cross-sectional study.

Methods

The Clarivate Analytics Web of Science database was used to generate a list of publications relating to football. Articles were filtered by the total number of citations, and the top 50 most cited articles studying the sport of football were selected for this analysis. Articles were analyzed by author, publication year, country of origin, institution affiliation, journal, article type, main research topic area, competitive level, and the level of evidence. A total of 247 articles were reviewed to reach the top 50 articles.

Results

The most studied topic within the top 50 articles was concussion/chronic traumatic encephalopathy (n = 40). Collegiate football was the most studied level of competition (n = 25). The journal publishing the greatest number of top articles was Neurosurgery. Two institutions, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Boston University School of Medicine, produced over one-third of top 50 articles (n = 18).

Conclusion

Our analysis indicated that most of the top 50 publications related to the sport of football focused on concussion and CTE, were observational, and were published during or after 2000. The most studied level of competition was collegiate football.

The Top 100 Most Cited Articles on Platelet-Rich Plasma Use in Regenerative Medicine-A Bibliometric Analysis-From the ESSKA Orthobiologic Initiative

Over the past few decades, more and more articles about platelet-rich plasma (PRP) use in regenerative medicine have been published. The aim of this study was to determine which articles have been most influential in this field by identifying and analyzing the characteristics of the 100 most cited articles. Articles on the use of PRP in regenerative medicine were identified via the Thomson ISI Web of Science database. A majority of the articles originated from the USA (36%). The top journal in terms of number of articles was American Journal of Sports Medicine (12%). Musculoskeletal system and orthopedics (54%) were the most popular fields of applications. Preclinical studies were the most represented study type, from which only 8 from 46 (17.4%) provided a complete numerical description of the injected product. Analysis showed a time-dependent trend of increasing quality of the clinical studies (p = 0.004), although none of them provided a complete biological characterization of the injected PRP. This study demonstrated that the use of PRP in regenerative medicine is a growing and popular area of research, mainly focused on orthopedic applications. Studies on PRP-derived exosomes, biological characterization, and correlation with clinical results might be areas of future trends.

Citation analysis of the most influential publications on whiplash injury: A STROBE-compliant study

Whiplash injury is a common diagnosis and causes substantial economic burden. Numerous papers have been published to provide new insights into whiplash injury. However, so far there has not been a comprehensive analysis of the most influential publications on whiplash injury. This study aimed to determine the 100 most cited publications on whiplash injury and analyze their characteristics. A keyword search was conducted using the Web of Science database. The top 100 cited publications relevant to whiplash injury were gathered. The main characteristics including title, year of publication, citation, authorship, journal, country, institution, and topic were generated. The number of citations of the top 100 cited publications ranged from 82 to 777. Fifteen countries contributed the top 100 publications. Australia had the largest number of publications (26), followed by the United States (21), and Canada (12). The majority of the publications were from Europe (40) and North America (33). A total of 19 institutions and 17 authors published more than one publication. The University of Queensland (16) and the author Sterling M (7) had the leading publication record. This is the first citation analysis to identify and characterize the highest impact researches on whiplash injury. The present analysis provides the most influential studies on whiplash injury, and reveals the leading journals, counties, institutions, and authors with special contributions in this filed. The list may serve as an archive of historical development of whiplash injury and a basis for further research.

The Top 50 Articles on Knee Posterolateral Corner Injuries

Purpose

To identify and characterize the most cited publications in orthopaedic research related to posterolateral corner (PLC) injuries of the knee.

Methods

The Science Citation Index Expanded was queried for PLC injury articles. The 50 most-cited studies from 1976 to 2021 were selected. Article characteristics, including number of citations, citation density, year of publication, source journal, country of origin, article type, article subtype, and level of evidence, were analyzed.

Results

The number of citations for individual articles ranged from 47 to 205. The 50 most cited articles were published in 16 journals. Eleven of the 50 articles (22%) were published in Arthroscopy-The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery. The largest proportion of the articles (n = 22, 44%) were classified as clinical, with the rest classified as reviews (n = 15, 30%), and basic science research (n = 13, 26%). The most common level of evidence for clinical articles was IV (14/22, 63.6%). Nine countries contributed to the top 50 articles, with the majority published in the United States (n = 35, 70%).

Conclusions

In the last 20 years, papers published on the diagnosis and surgical management of PLC injuries have a high citation frequency. Future high-quality research is needed to establish best-practice guidelines for the management of PLC injuries due to the low overall level of evidence of existing clinical studies.

Clinical Relevance

This research provides a comprehensive list for practitioners and may help educators identify articles to include in the curriculum for residents and fellows.

The fifty most cited publications in shoulder arthroplasty research

Introduction

Frequency of citation provides one quantitative metric of the impact that an article has on a given field. The purpose of this study was to evaluate characteristics of the 50 most cited publications on shoulder arthroplasty.

Methods

The Web of Science database was used to determine the 50 most frequently cited shoulder arthroplasty articles. Articles were evaluated for several factors including type of arthroplasty, citation frequency and rate, source journal, country of origin, study type, and level of evidence.

Results

The most common countries of origin were the United States (60%) followed by France (24%) and Switzerland (6%). A total of 27 (54%) articles included anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA), 18 (36%) included reverse total shoulder arthroplasty (RTSA), and 15 (30%) included hemiarthroplasty. Articles including RTSA had the greatest number of citations compared to those on TSA (p = 0.037) and hemiarthroplasty (p = 0.035). Citations per year were also greatest with RTSA compared to TSA and hemiarthroplasty (p ≤ 0.001).

Discussion

This citation analysis includes many of the landmark studies that shaped, and continue to impact, the field of shoulder arthroplasty. This list provides a group of influential articles that provide a foundation for future research in shoulder arthroplasty.

The 100 most cited papers on bone metastasis: A bibliometric analysis

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Citations per article in the most 100 top cited articles ranged from 357 to 2167.

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The leading country was USA, Canada, and United Kingdom.

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Clinical management of bone metastasis from different malignancy origins.

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Intense collaborative activity between countries and institutions was obvious between the selected papers.

Background

Over the past few decades, a vast number of articles focused on bone metastasis have been published. Bibliometric analysis is helpful to determine the qualities and characteristics and to reveal the influential articles in this field.

Methods

All the databases in Web of Science were utilized to identify articles published from 1961 to 2020. The top 100 most cited articles on bone metastases were involved for degree centrality analysis and analyses on publication time and citations, journals, authors, geographical distribution, research institutions, and research keywords.

Results

The selected articles were published mainly from 1986 to 2015. The 100 most cited articles were selected from a total of 67,451 citations out of 90,502 publications with a density of 50.239 citations/year. Citations per article ranged from 357 to 2167. The leading country was USA, followed by Canada and United Kingdom. The most frequently studied themes were clinical management of bone metastasis from different malignancy origins. A co-authorship analysis revealed an intense collaborative activity between countries and institutions.

Conclusions

This study identified the top 100 most cited articles on bone metastasis. Publication time, area, and theme distribution were thoroughly analyzed. The present study highlighted some of the most influential contributions to the field. Clinical and academic communities have shown a sustained interest in the management of bone metastasis.

The 100 Most-Cited and Influential Articles in Collegiate Athletics

Background

Bibliometric citation analyses have been widely used in medicine to help researchers gain foundational knowledge about a topic and identify subtopics of popular interest for further investigations. There is a lack of similar research in collegiate athletics.

Purpose

To identify the 100 most-cited research publications related to collegiate athletics.

Study Design

Cross-sectional study.

Methods

The Clarivate Analytics Web of Knowledge database was used to generate a list of articles relating to collegiate athletics on January 24, 2022. Articles were filtered by the total number of citations, and the 100 most-cited articles were selected. For each article, we identified and analyzed the following: author name, publication year, country of origin, journal name, article type, main research topic area, competitive level, sex of study population, and level of evidence.

Results

Of the top 100 most-cited articles, 63 were related to medicine. In total, 96% of articles were published in the United States, and 80% were published in the year 2000 or later. Of the top 100 articles, 85 were observational; only 5 were experimental. The sport most represented was soccer, followed by football, baseball, and basketball. Of the top 100 articles, 21 were published in a single journal, the American Journal of Sports Medicine. Ten authors published ≥5 of the top 100 most-cited studies.

Conclusion

The majority of top 100 articles were published in the United States after 1999 and primarily focused on medicine-related topics. Soccer was studied by more articles than football, baseball, and basketball. An author's prestige may have influenced the likelihood of citation. The top 100 most-cited studies provide researchers, medical students, residents, and fellows with a foundational list of the most important and influential academic contributions to the literature on collegiate athletics.

The 100 Top-Cited Articles about Kienböck's Disease: A Bibliometric Analysis

Introduction  The aim of this study was to analyze the 100 top-cited articles about Kienböck's disease and their features. Materials and Methods  A search through the Elsevier, Scopus database journal articles about Kienböck's disease yielded 1,025 results. The 100 top-cited articles were identified and filtered again to exclude self-citations. The 100 top-cited articles without self-citations were analyzed for the number of citation, citation density, publishing journal, language, authorship, and geographic origin. The abstracts of the articles were obtained to review and determine the types of articles and levels of evidence. Results  The mean of the 100 top-cited articles' absolute number of citations was 63.3 ± 34 (range: 23-199). Citation densities ranged from 1 to 8. A total of 97 (97%) articles were written in English. The leading countries were the United States with 50 (50%) articles followed by Japan with 16 (16%) articles. Forty (40%) articles have been published in the Journal of Hand Surgery American volume. Among the 100 top-cited articles, nine articles were devoted to basic science and 91 articles have dealt with clinical science. There were three articles with level II, 24 articles with level III, 46 articles with level IV, and 18 articles with level V of evidences. Conclusion  The current study presents an insight to the classic articles about Kienböck's disease. The 100 top-cited articles have established a foundation that the science on Kienböck's disease has been elaborated. The current study is likely helpful for educational purposes and further research about Kienböck's disease. Level of Evidence  Economic and decision analysis/Level IV.

The Most Highly Cited Publications on Basketball Originate From English-Speaking Countries, Are Published After 2000, Are Focused on Medicine-Related Topics, and Are Level III Evidence

Purpose

To identify the 50 most highly cited research publications in the sport of basketball.

Methods

Using the Clarivate Analytics Web of Knowledge database and the search term “basketball”, we identified 2,704 articles. These articles were filtered by the total number of citations and the top 50 most cited articles with a central focus on basketball were selected for this analysis. For each article, we further identified and analyzed author name, publication year, country of origin, journal name, article type, main research topic area, competitive level, gender of study population, and the level of evidence.

Results

Medicine-related topics, particularly those involving knee injuries, are more common than nonmedical topics (coaching, sports psychology etc.) among the highest cited articles. Articles originated from 13 different countries, with 48% originating in the United States. Only four authors had more than one article included in the top 50 most cited articles.

Conclusion

A majority of the top 50 research articles were from English-speaking countries, published after 2000, primarily focused on medicine-related topics, and were Level III evidence. Publications examining knee injuries were the most highly cited and appear to be of high interest to current investigators. The prestige of an author’s name appeared to be less influential to the number of citations.

Clinical Relevance

The top 50 most cited articles list will provide researchers, medical students, residents, and fellows with a foundational list of the most important and influential academic contributions to the basketball literature.

Influential Studies in Orthopaedic Platelet-Rich Plasma Research Are Recent and Consist of High Levels of Evidence: A Review of the Top 50 Most Cited Publications

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) has garnered widespread and increasing attention in recent years. We aimed to characterize the most influential articles in PRP research while clarifying controversies surrounding its use and clinical efficacy and identifying important areas on which to focus future research efforts. The Science Citation Index Expanded subsection of the Web of Science Core Collection was systematically searched to identify the top 50 cited publications on orthopedic PRP research. Publication and study characteristics were extracted, and Spearman's correlations were calculated to assess the relationship between citation data and level of evidence. The top 50 articles were published between the years 2005 and 2016, with 68% published in the year 2010 or later. Of the 33 studies for which level of evidence was assessed, the majority were of level I or II (18, 54.5%). Seventeen articles (34%) were classified as basic science. All clinical studies were prospective, and most (12 studies, 60%) included a high number of metrics related to the PRP preparation protocol and composition. Knee osteoarthritis was the most common topic among clinical studies in the top 50 cited articles (11 studies, 34%). More recent articles were associated with higher citation rates (ρ = 0.46, p < 0.001). The most influential articles on orthopaedic PRP research are recent and consist of high-level of evidence studies mostly. Randomized controlled trials were the most common study type, while basic science articles were relatively less common. The most influential clinical studies reported a high number of metrics related to their PRP preparation protocol and the final PRP composition. These results suggest a rapidly evolving field with the potential to better explain inconsistent clinical results with improved understanding and documentation of basic science concepts such as PRP composition, preparation, and combination techniques.

The 100 Most Impactful Papers in Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery over the Last 25 Years: A Bibliometric Analysis of the Orthopaedic Literature

Introduction  Despite growth in hand/upper extremity investigation, impactful studies have not been thoroughly identified. Previous studies have been limited in scope. This study sought to identify and characterize the most impactful orthopaedic papers in hand/upper extremity over the past 25 years. Materials and Methods  The top 1,000 hand/upper extremity orthopaedic studies published from 1992 to 2017 were identified with Web of Science. After screening for relevance in order of decreasing citation number, the top 100 articles were identified for bibliometric analysis. Results  The mean number of authors and citations were 4.51 (range, 1-21) and 169.4 (range, 105-863). Common study types included, case series ( n = 52), randomized controlled trial ( n = 17), and prospective cohort ( n = 16), which predominantly covered topics related to shoulder ( n = 34), wrist/forearm ( n = 21), and hand ( n = 17). Among wrist/forearm and hand studies, distal radius fractures ( n = 12) and nerve-related topics ( n = 10) were most frequently analyzed. Most studies were of level IV ( n = 51) and level II ( n = 16) evidence. Recent studies had greater impact (mean citations/year: 2011, 82.7/year vs. 1992, 16.1/year). Conclusion  Most of the 100 top orthopaedic articles in hand/upper extremity were of level IV or II evidence, retrospective, and nonrandomized. Despite an observed recent increase in level I studies, a lack of prospective, randomized trials is apparent.

Frontal knee alignment influences the vertical orientation of the femoral neck in standing position

AIMS

The aim of this study was to determine the association between knee alignment and the vertical orientation of the femoral neck in relation to the floor. This could be clinically important because changes of femoral neck orientation might alter chondral joint contact zones and joint reaction forces, potentially inducing problems like pain in pre-existing chondral degeneration. Further, the femoral neck orientation influences the ischiofemoral space and a small ischiofemoral distance can lead to impingement. We hypothesized that a valgus knee alignment is associated with a more vertical orientation of the femoral neck in standing position, compared to a varus knee. We further hypothesized that realignment surgery around the knee alters the vertical orientation of the femoral neck.

METHODS

Long-leg standing radiographs of patients undergoing realignment surgery around the knee were used. The hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA) and the vertical orientation of the femoral neck in relation to the floor were measured, prior to surgery and after osteotomy-site-union. Linear regression was performed to determine the influence of knee alignment on the vertical orientation of the femoral neck.

RESULTS

The cohort included 147 patients who underwent knee realignment-surgery. The mean age was 51.5 years (SD 11). Overall, 106 patients underwent a valgisation-osteotomy, while 41 underwent varisation osteotomy. There was a significant association between the orientation of the knee and the coronal neck-orientation. In the varus group, the median orientation of the femoral neck was 46.5° (interquartile range (IQR) 49.7° to 50.0°), while in the valgus group, the orientation was 52.0° (IQR 46.5° to 56.7°; p < 0.001). Linear regression analysis revealed that HKA demonstrated a direct influence on the coronal neck-orientation (β = 0.5 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.2 to 0.7); p = 0.002). Linear regression also showed that realignment surgery was associated with a significant influence on the change in the coronal femoral neck orientation (β = 5.6 (95% CI 1.5 to 9.8); p = 0.008).

CONCLUSION

Varus or valgus knee alignment is associated with either a more horizontal or a more vertical femoral neck orientation in standing position, respectively. Subsequently, osteotomies around the knee alter the vertical orientation of the femoral neck. These aspects are of importance when planning osteotomies around the knee in order to appreciate the effects on the adjacent hip joint. The concept may be of even more relevance in dysplastic hips. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(12):1057-1061.

Top 100 Most-Cited Papers in Neuropathic Pain From 2000 to 2020: A Bibliometric Study

Background: Neuropathic pain research has grown impressively in the past two decades, as evidenced by improvements in research quality and increments in the number of research papers. In views of this situation, the use of quantitative measurements to analyze and characterize existing research has become imperative. The aim of this research is to identify and analyze the 100 most-cited papers in neuropathic pain research.

Methods: Neuropathic pain-related articles published between 2000 and 2020 were screened from Web of Science (WOS) by using the following subject terms: TI = (Neuralgia$ OR Neurodynia$ OR “Neuropathic pain” OR sciatica OR “Nerve pain$”). The publications were ranked in a descending order on the basis of citation counts, and the top 100 most-cited neuropathic pain papers were determined. Subsequently, we conducted a bibliometric study to determine the authors, journals, countries, and institutions that contributed the most to the top 100 neuropathic pain lists; describe the keywords and hotspots of the top 100 most-cited papers; and explore the factors associated with successful citations.

Results: The top 100 most-cited papers were published from 2000 to 2017, and 2003 had the largest number of published papers (n = 16). The mean number of citations per paper was 480.72, with a range of 262–1,569. Forty-four kinds of journals contributed to the top 100 most-cited papers, which were predominantly published in “Pain” (n = 23). The USA was determined to be the leader of neuropathic pain research in terms of quality and quantity.

Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive list of the most influential papers on neuropathic pain and demonstrates the important advances in this field to help understand academic concerns and the directions of technological innovations in neuropathic pain worldwide.

Top-100 Most-Cited Sports-Related Concussion Articles Focus on Symptomatology, Epidemiology, and Demographics

Purpose

To analyze the top-100 cited articles on sports-related concussions together with a bibliometric analysis to determine citations by year, level of evidence, study design, and several other factors related to the top referenced articles in sports concussions.

Methods

The Clarivate Analytics Web of Knowledge database was used to gather data using Boolean queries to capture all possible iterations of sports-related concussion research. Articles were organized in descending order based on the number of citations and included or excluded based on relevance to concussion. Collected information included author name, publication year, country of origin, journal name, article type, study focus, and the level of evidence.

Results

The top-100 articles were cited 31,197 times with an average of 312.0 citations per publication. More than one half were published in 2006 or later (52). Cohort studies and descriptive articles were the most prevalent study types (22 each). Studies with Level V evidence were the most common (33). The most common areas of study were symptomatology (short term, long term) with 17 articles, followed by epidemiology/demographics with 16 articles. The least common area of study was concussion prevention (2 articles), followed by management/treatment, diagnostics (labs, imaging) with 4 articles each.

Conclusions

We identified the most influential studies in sports-related concussion based on number of citations and citation density. A majority of these articles were published in the United States after 2006 and are most commonly cohort studies (Level IV evidence) and descriptive articles (Level V evidence). Current research focuses most heavily on the symptomatology and epidemiology/demographics of sports concussion.

Clinical Relevance

This study serves to identify the most influential articles in sports-related concussion and identify research topics with general deficiencies within the field of sports-related concussion research.

Academic Publication of Neurodegenerative Diseases From a Bibliographic Perspective: A Comparative Scientometric Analysis

Background: For measuring the impact in clinical and scientific research, the citation count of the articles is used in the bibliometric analysis, although there is no comprehensive summary of neurodegenerative disease research. This study intends to provide the neuroscientists and investigators with a practical reference guide to appraise the most important and influential articles written on this subject through a macroscopic view of the research activities on neurodegenerative diseases. Materials and Methods: The Clarivate Analytics Web of Science was searched in July 2020. To ensure the breadth of the search scope, the search terms were confirmed as "multiple sclerosis" (MS) or "amyotrophic lateral sclerosis" (ALS) or "Parkinson's" or "Alzheimer's" or "Huntington's" or "neurodegenerative." After excluding completely unrelated articles, the top-cited articles were collected and evaluated from special characteristics. The data analysis was performed using SPSS 18.0. The articles were characterized by citation number, publication year, topic, study type, authorship, journal, country, and institute of responding author and foundation. Results: The query identified 593,050 articles. A total of 45% of the top-cited articles were published during 2000-2009, followed by 30 articles from 1990-1999. Diagnosis and pathology were the main research categories (n = 62). Alzheimer's disease (AD) was the main study topic (n = 43). Meanwhile, the United States confirmed the tremendous impact on the field of neurodegenerative diseases. Notably, 69 of 100 articles were studied in the United States, and the National Institutes of Health sponsored 49 articles. There were only 22 articles that can be divided by evidence level. No article was categorized as level 1 evidence. In the journal list with multiple articles, seven of 15 were general journals. The 58 authors, who contributed to more than one article, have been identified by VOSviewer, and the clusters of authors reveal the evolution of research focus in neurodegenerative diseases. Conclusions: This study analyzed the bibliometric characteristics and connections of 100 top-cited articles in the field of neurodegenerative diseases in the Web of Science. Their main outcomes were as follows: First, the pathology and diagnostic researches took a major role in top-cited articles while the therapy articles are relatively less. Second, the United States confirmed the tremendous impact on the field of neurodegenerative diseases. Third, researchers also submitted their researches to general journals, not just focused on specialty journals.

The 50 Most Cited Articles in the Indications, Risk Factors, Techniques, and Outcomes of ACL Revision Surgery

The rate of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) retear remains high and revision ACL reconstruction has worse outcomes compared with primaries. To make advances in this area, a strong understanding of influential research is necessary. One method for systematically evaluating the literature is by citation analysis. This article aims to establish and evaluate "classic" articles. With consideration of these articles, this article also aims to evaluate gaps in the field and determine where future research should be directed. The general approach for data collection and analysis consisted of planning objectives, employing a defined strategy, reviewing search results using a multistep and multiauthor approach with specific screening criteria, and analyzing data. The collective number of citations for all publications within the list was 5,203 with an average of 104 citations per publication. "Biomechanical Measures during Landing and Postural Stability Predict Second Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury after Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction and Return to Sport" by Paterno et al contained both the highest number of total citations and the highest number of citations per year, with 403 total citations and 43.9 citations per year. The most recurring level of evidence were level II (n = 18) and level III (n = 17). "Clinical Outcomes" was the most common article type (n = 20) followed by "Risk Factors" (n = 10). The American Journal of Sports Medicine had the highest recorded Cite Factor with over 50% of the articles (n = 27) published. The most productive authors included R.W. Wright (n = 6), S.D. Barber-Westin (n = 5), F.R. Noyes (n = 5), and K.P. Spindler (n = 5). Historically, influential studies have been published in the realms of clinical outcome and risk factor identification. It has been established that revision ACL reconstruction has worse outcomes and more high-level studies are needed. Additionally, prospective studies that apply the knowledge for current known risk factor mitigation are needed to determine if graft tear rates can be lowered.

The Top 50 Most-Cited Knee Arthroscopy Studies

Purpose

To objectively identify the 50 most influential studies in knee arthroscopy and provide an analysis of their key characteristics.

Methods

The Clarivate Analytics Web of Knowledge database was used to gather data and metrics of knee arthroscopy research. The search list was sorted by the number of citations, and articles were included or excluded based on relevance to knee arthroscopy. The information extracted for each article included author name, publication year, country of origin, journal name, article type, and the level of evidence.

Results

For these 50 studies, the total number of citations was calculated to be 12,168, with an average of 243.4 citations per paper. The most-cited article was cited 1,220 times. The 50 studies included in this analysis were published between 1972 and 2013. All 50 articles were published in English and came from 10 different orthopaedic journals. The United States was responsible for the majority of articles (n = 26); however, many other countries were represented. The most prevalent study designs were case series (n = 20).

Conclusions

The 50 most influential articles in knee arthroscopy were cited a total of 12,168 times. The study designs most commonly used were case series and cohort studies. This article serves as a reference to direct orthopaedic practitioners to the 50 most influential studies in knee arthroscopy. We hope that these 50 studies and the analysis we provide help health care professionals efficiently assess consensus, trends, and needs within the field.

Clinical Relevance

This analysis of the 50 most influential studies in knee arthroscopy will provide medical students, residents, fellows, and attending physicians with a comprehensive inventory and citation analysis of the most impactful academic contributions to one of the most important fields within orthopaedic surgery.

The Top 100 Most-Cited Articles on Hallux Valgus

BACKGROUND

To perform the citation and content analysis of 100 articles on Hallux valgus from the most cited to the least.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Articles published on Hallux valgus between 1980 and 2020 were analyzed by making use of the Web of Science database. Articles were ranked from most cited to the least. Content analysis of all articles was also carried out. Original research articles, reviews, and clinical trials were included in the study whereas case reports were excluded from the study.

RESULTS

The total number of citations of the 100 most-cited articles was 7,697. The most-cited article was 'Prevalence of hallux valgus in the general population; systematic review and meta-analysis' published by Sheere Nix in Journal of Foot and Ankle Research in 2010. The country where the articles were mostly produced was USA (n = 46). The most interesting issue was the osteotomy techniques and changes in Hallux valgus surgery.

CONCLUSION

The treatment of the Hallux valgus disease is still discussed today. Citation analyses have shown that surgical developments related to HV surgery still attract attention, and this information will be updated continuously in line with the increasing number of articles.

The 50 Most Cited Articles in Meniscal Injury Research

Background:

Meniscal injuries are among the most common orthopaedic injuries, with a significant volume of published literature.

Purpose:

To perform a comprehensive bibliometric analysis that appropriately evaluates the 50 most cited articles in meniscal research.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study.

Methods:

We performed a keyword search of the ISI Web of Knowledge database and then pared the results down to the 50 most cited articles using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data extracted included title, first author, citation count, year of publication, topic, journal, article type, country of origin, and level of evidence. Correlation coefficients were calculated between publication date and citation density and between publication date and raw citation count.

Results:

The 50 most cited articles were published from 1975 to 2013. The mean number of citations was 258.24 (range, 163-926; median, 225). The majority of articles were published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine (19%), the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (12%), and Arthritis & Rheumatology (14%). Most articles focused on either the anatomy and biomechanics of meniscal injury or on prevention and physical rehabilitation (12 papers each).

Conclusion:

The most popular fields of meniscal research involved anatomy/biomechanics and prevention/rehabilitation, and both are areas that will likely increase the probability of an article’s being highly cited in the future. This study provided a quality selection of the most cited articles on meniscal injury and may provide a foundation for both beginner and senior clinician readers for further discussion and research.

A bibliometric analysis of the 50 most influential publications on distal biceps repair

PURPOSE

The purpose of this bibliometric study was to identify and analyze the most cited publications on acute distal biceps repair.

METHODS

Using the Clarivate Analytics Web of Science database, we searched for the top 50 most cited publications on acute distal biceps repair and analyzed them based on various metrics.

RESULTS

The top 50 publications were cited a total of 3171 times and approximately 151 times per year. However, although the literature on the topic is quite extensive, most publications only contain low-level evidence. In fact, 74% of the 50 most cited publications on the topic contain either level IV or V evidence.

CONCLUSION

This study, through bibliometric analysis, demonstrates that the most often cited studies about acute distal biceps tendon repair are low level of evidence designs. This common injury and study design are ripe for larger randomized or prospective cohort studies.

The top 50 most cited articles on olecranon fractures: a bibliometric analysis

PURPOSE

Citation analysis has been used to determine the impact of an article in a medical specialty. The purpose of this study was to identify the 50 most cited articles on olecranon fracture outcomes, indications, techniques, procedural descriptions, and complications and analyse their characteristics.

METHODS

The Web of Science database was used to search for publications related to olecranon fractures. The top 50 most cited articles that met the inclusion criteria were recorded and reviewed in terms of journal and year of publication, country of origin, type of study, and level of evidence.

RESULTS

The top 50 articles were cited a total of 2165 times and the year of publication ranged from 1957 to 2014. Of the 50 articles identified, 43 were case series correlating with a Level IV evidence designation. The top 50 articles were published in 20 different medical journals and originated from 18 different countries.

CONCLUSION

The majority of the articles analysed were uncontrolled case series that reported outcomes and complications surrounding the operative treatment of olecranon fractures. The top 50 most influential articles pertaining to olecranon fractures provides physicians and residency programs with a high-yield list of publications to reference on the topic.

A Bibliometric Evaluation of the Top 100 Cited Dimethyl Fumarate Articles

Dimethyl fumarate is a cytoprotective and immunomodulatory drug used in the treatment of multiple sclerosis. We performed a bibliometric study examining the characteristics and trends of the top 100 cited articles that include dimethyl fumarate in the title. On 21 September 2020 we carried out an electronic search in the Web of Science (WOS), seeking articles that include the following terms within the title: dimethyl fumarate, BG-12, or Tecfidera. To focus our investigation on original research, we refined the search to include only articles, early access, others, case report, and clinical trials. We obtained a total of 1115 items, which were cited 7169 times, had a citation density of 6.43 citations/item, and an h-index of 40. Around 2010, there was a jump in the number of published articles per year, rising from 5 articles/year up to 12 articles/year. We sorted all the items by the number of citations and selected the top 100 most cited (T100). The T100 had 4164 citations, with a density of 37 citations/year and contained 16 classic research articles. They were published between 1961 and 2018; the years 2010-2018 amassed nearly 80% of the T100. We noted 17 research areas with articles in the T100. Of these, the number one ranking went to neurosciences/neurology with 39 articles, and chemistry ranked second on the T100 list with 14 items. We noticed that the percentage of articles belonging to different journals changed depending on the time period. Chemistry held the highest number of papers during 1961-2000, while pharmacology andneurosciences/neurology led the 2001-2018 interval. A total of 478 authors from 145 institutions and 25 countries were included in the T100 ranking. The paper by Gold R et al. was the most successful with 14 articles, 1.823 citations and a density of 140.23 citations/year. The biotechnological company Biogen led the T100 list with 20 articles. With 59 published articles, the USA was the leading country in publications. We concluded that this study analyzed the use of and research on dimethyl fumarate from a different perspective, which will allow the readership (expert or not) to understand the relevance of classic and recent literature on this topic.

Assessment and Trends of the Methodological Quality of the Top 50 Most Cited Articles on Patellar Instability

Background

Studies with a low level of evidence (LOE) have dominated the top cited research in many areas of orthopaedics. The wide range of treatment options for patellar instability necessitates an investigation to determine the types of studies that drive clinical practice.

Purpose

To determine (1) the top 50 most cited articles on patellar instability and (2) the correlation between the number of citations and LOE or methodological quality.

Study Design

Cross-sectional study.

Methods

The Scopus and Web of Science databases were assessed to determine the top 50 most cited articles on patellar instability between 1985 and 2019. Bibliographic information, number of citations, and LOE were collected. Methodological quality was calculated using the Modified Coleman Methodology Score (MCMS) and the Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS). Mean citations and mean citation density (citations per year) were correlated with LOE, MCMS, and MINORS scores.

Results

Most studies were cadaveric (n = 10; 20.0%), published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine (n = 13; 26.0%), published between 2000 and 2009 (n = 41; 82.0%), and conducted in the United States (n = 17; 34.0%). The mean number of citations and the citation density were 158.61 ± 59.53 (range, 95.5-400.5) and 12.74 ± 5.12, respectively. The mean MCMS and MINORS scores were 59.62 ± 12.58 and 16.24 ± 3.72, respectively. No correlation was seen between mean number of citations or citation density versus LOE. A significant difference was found in the mean LOE of articles published between 1990 and 1999 (5.0 ± 0) versus those published between 2000 and 2009 (3.12 ± 1.38; P = .03) and between 2010 and 2019 (3.00 ± 1.10; P = .01).

Conclusion

There was a shift in research from anatomy toward outcomes in patellar instability; however, these articles demonstrated low LOE and methodological quality. Higher quality studies are necessary to establish informed standards of management of patellar instability.

The Top 50 Most-Cited Shoulder Arthroscopy Studies

Purpose

To determine the 50 most frequently cited studies in the orthopaedic shoulder arthroscopy literature and to conduct a bibliometric analysis of these studies.

Methods

The Clarivate Analytics Web of Knowledge database was used to gather data and metrics using Boolean queries to capture all possible iterations of shoulder arthroscopy research. The search list was sorted so that articles were organized in descending order based on the number of citations and included or excluded based on relevance to shoulder arthroscopy. The information extracted for each article included author name, publication year, country of origin, journal name, article type, and the level of evidence.

Results

For these 50 studies, the total number of citations was calculated to be 13,910, with an average of 278.2 citations per paper. The most-cited article was cited 1134 times, whereas the second- and third-most cited articles were cited 920 and 745 times, respectively. All 50 articles were published in English and came from 7 different orthopaedic journals. The United States was responsible for most of the included articles (31), followed by France (9) and Japan (3).

Conclusions

The majority of the most-cited articles in shoulder arthroscopy are case series and descriptive studies originating from the United States. In addition, more than one half of the top 50 most-cited studies were published after 2004, which suggests that article age may be less important in the accumulation of citations for a rapidly growing field like shoulder arthroscopy.

Clinical Relevance

The top 50 most-cited studies list will provide researchers, medical students, residents, and fellows with a foundational list of the most important and influential academic contributions to shoulder arthroscopy.

Thromboprophylaxis across orthopaedic surgery: Bibliometric analysis of the most cited articles

PURPOSE

One of the most common adverse events after orthopaedic surgery, with a potential for subsequent serious morbidity and mortality is venous thromboembolism (VTE). Bibliometric analysis has been performed regarding many topics and across orthopaedics. As DVT prophylaxis is a major component of both orthopaedic surgery considerations and research, a bibliometric analysis in this area would prove beneficial in not only in understanding the research done in the field thus far, but would also direct future research efforts.

METHODS

The Web of Science (WoS) database from the Institute of Scientific Information (ISI) was used to compile articles for bibliometric analysis using Boolean search: ((Orthopaedic∗ OR Orthopaedic∗) AND (thromboprophylaxis OR Thromboembolism OR Deep vein thrombosis OR thrombus OR embolism OR anticoagulation OR Embolus OR prophylaxis)).

RESULTS

The Top 100 cited articles included in the final list generated a total of 21,099 citations. The highest cited article was Prevention of venous thromboembolism by Geerts et al. published in Chest, which had a total of 2802 on WoS, and a calculated citation density of 215.54 of citations/years since publication. Comparing the overall citation against the year of publication there was a slight positive trend favoring more recent publications (R-value: 0.142; adjusted R-squared: 0.01; p = 0.16). Analysis of an articles Level of Evidence (LOE), 17 were grade with a level of I.

CONCLUSIONS

Orthopaedic thromboprophylaxis is an ever-changing field that is at the forefront of orthopaedic literature. The significant trend favoring high quality research within orthopaedic thromboprophylaxis demonstrates the importance of this topic and there was a need for a guide to best understand the evolution of DVT prophylaxis.

Meta-analysis in periprosthetic joint infection: a global bibliometric analysis

Background

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is the most serious complication of joint replacement surgery. Further comorbidities include bedsore, deep vein thrombosis, reinfection, or even death. An increasing number of researchers are focusing on this challenging complication. The aim of the present study was to estimate global PJI research based on bibliometrics from meta-analysis studies.

Methods

A database search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Relevant studies were assessed using the bibliometric analysis.

Results

A total of 117 articles were included. The most relevant literature on PJI was found on Scopus. China made the highest contributions to global research, followed by the USA and the UK. The institution with the most contributions was the University of Bristol. The journal with the highest number of publications was The Journal of Arthroplasty, whereas the Journal of Clinical Medicine had the shortest acceptance time. Furthermore, the top three frequently used databases were Embase, MEDLINE, and Cochrane. The most frequent number of authors in meta-analysis studies was four. Most studies focused on the periprosthetic hip and knee. The alpha-defensin diagnostic test, preventive measures on antibiotics use, and risk factors of intra-articular steroid injections were the most popular topic in recent years.

Conclusion

Based on the results of the present study, we found that there was no single database that covered all relevant articles; the optimal method for bibliometric analysis is a combination of databases. The most popular research topics on PJI focused on alpha-defensin, antibiotic use, risk factors of intra-articular steroid injections, and the location of prosthetic hip and knee infection.

The global state of clinical research and trends in periprosthetic joint infection: A bibliometric analysis

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to estimate the trends and state of research in periprosthetic joint infection (PJI).

METHODS

Publications on PJI published between 1998 and 2018 were searched in the Web of Science database and analyzed using bibliometrics. The Altmetric score and Research Interest score were combined to provide a weighted count. The scope of the Altmetric score includes >16 weighted composite scores from websites such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube, whereas the Research Interest score is calculated from information derived from ResearchGate.

RESULTS

Total of 3245 published documents were identified. The largest contribution was made by the United States, with the institution contributing most being the Rothman Institute. The most relative articles were published by the Journal of Arthroplasty, whereas the highest citation frequency journal was Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. There was a positive correlation between citation counts and Research Interest scores, while the Altmetric Attention score showed a negative value for highly cited articles.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on the current trends of globalization, there is a rising trend in publications on PJI, with the largest annual contributions made by the United States. The most influential contributors are researchers from the United States and Europe. Twitter is used as a platform to communicate knowledge by most PJI researchers. The most recent research has focused on the diagnosis and risk factors of PJI.

The Top 50 Most Influential Articles in Hip Arthroscopy

PURPOSE

To identify the 50 most frequently cited publications related to hip arthroscopy.

METHODS

The Clarivate Analytics Web of Knowledge database was used to search for publications relating to hip arthroscopy. The top 50 most cited articles that met the inclusion criteria were recorded and reviewed for various metrics.

RESULTS

The top 50 publications were cited a total of 8,306 times, with an average of 437.2 total citations per year. Of the 50 articles identified, 44 had been published since 2000. Case series, expert opinion articles, and review articles were the most common study types.

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of the most influential articles on hip arthroscopy are case series and expert opinions; however, as hip arthroscopy continues to become more widely performed, higher-level articles should supplant some of the articles included in this analysis. As indications for hip arthroscopy have expanded, so has its body of literature, with the vast majority of articles identified in our study having been published since 2000. Elucidating the 50 most cited articles in hip arthroscopy will allow practicing physicians a quick reference to the highest-yield articles and will allow residency programs to guide their education on the topic.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

The top 50 list provides residents, fellows, and researchers with a comprehensive list of the major academic contributions to hip arthroscopy.

The top 100 classic papers on adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in the past 25 years: a bibliometric analysis of the orthopaedic literature

STUDY DESIGN

Bibliometric analysis.

OBJECTIVES

To identify the 100 most cited orthopedic papers in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) over the past 25 years and characterize them by study type, topic, and country and assess study quality (design, level of evidence, and impact factor) to provide an updated account of the most impactful AIS evidence. AIS represents a three-dimensional deformity that drives a significant number of investigations. Although available evidence continues to grow, recent impactful studies pertaining to AIS have not been identified; their quality has not been thoroughly assessed.

METHODS

Web of Science was reviewed to identify the top 1000 cited AIS studies published from 1992 to 2017. Articles were organized by number of citations. Titles and abstracts were screened for inclusion/relevance, and the top 100 articles by citation count were identified, and study and publication characteristics were extracted.

RESULTS

Among the top 100 articles, 42 were cited ≥ 100 times. Mean number of authors and citations of these studies was 5.6 and 118.3, respectively. Study types were predominantly retrospective (n = 53), followed by prospective (n = 18), cross-sectional (n = 13), and systematic review/meta-analysis (n = 7). Topics covered in these studies included clinical/patient outcomes (n = 47), methodology/validation (n = 22), basic science (n = 15), radiographic analyses (n = 12), and gait/biomechanics (n = 4). Most studies originated in the United States of America (n = 65) and were published in Spine (n = 76), with 8266 total citations. Most studies were of Level III (n = 55) or Level II (n = 23) evidence. Mean impact factor was 3.47.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite recent studies' shorter time frames for impact, citations of AIS research have progressively increased during the past 25 years. The top 100 cited orthopedic studies were predominantly Level III, retrospective, nonrandomized studies, and therefore, were subject to biases. The low proportion of prospective studies (18%) reflects an area of future improvement, underscoring the need for higher-quality studies to support our practice.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

N/A.

The top 100 most cited articles on total hip arthroplasty: a bibliometric analysis

BACKGROUND

Over the past few decades, more and more articles about total hip arthroplasty have been published. We noticed, however, little is known about the characteristics and qualities of these studies.

METHODS

The databases of Web of Science Core Collection, BIOSIS Citation Index, MEDLINE, etc. were utilized for the identification of articles published from 1990 to May 2019. Total hip arthroplasty-related articles were identified, and the 100 most cited articles were selected for subsequent analysis of citation count, citation density (citations/article age), authorship, theme, geographic distribution, time-related flux, level of evidence, and network analysis.

RESULTS

The selected 100 articles were published mainly in the 1990s (46%) and 2000s (47%) with almost equal amount. Citations per article ranged from 994 to 191. Leading countries were the USA followed by Canada, England, and Sweden, all located in North America and Western Europe. The most highlighted study themes were postoperative thrombosis and surgical methods and materials. The most common level of evidence was level III (35%). The network analysis connoted that radiography, acetabulum, reoperation, and bone cement had a high degree of centrality in the 1990s, while cement had a high degree of centrality in the 2000s and 2010s.

CONCLUSIONS

The time, area, and theme distribution of the top 100 most cited articles in the total hip arthroplasty have been thoroughly analyzed. It is noticeable that postoperative thromboembolism currently plays a major role in the field of total hip arthroplasty researches. However, most of them focus on the effectiveness of different treatments and drugs; little is known about its underlying mechanisms and influencing factors.

The top 100 most-cited Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research articles

BACKGROUND

The French peer-reviewed journal Revue d'Orthopédie founded on 1st January 1890 extended its scope in 2009 by creating the English-language, online-only, indexed journal Orthopaedics & Traumatology: Surgery & Research (OTSR). Bibliometric data help authors and readers assess the citation potential of articles published in a given journal. We found no bibliometrics for the first 10years of OTSR. The objectives of this bibliometric study were to identify (i) the 100 most-cited OTSR articles and (ii) the specialties or article types most often involved in citations.

METHODS

The Scopus database was used to determine the citation rates of the 2158 articles published in OTSR during the journal's first 10years. A bibliometric analysis was performed on the 100 most-cited articles.

RESULTS

Mean time since publication of the 100 most-cited articles was 6.60±1.66years (range: 2-10years) and mean number of citations per article was 49.59±24.16 (range: 30-169). Mean number of citations per year was 7.75±3.26 (range: 4-18.78) and mean number per author was 5.52±3.14 (range: 1-21). The first author was French in 89/100 cases. Of the 100 articles, 56 were based on a multi-centre study and 21 on an international study. Finally, 22/100 articles reported studies sponsored by a scientific society.

DISCUSSION

The 100 articles identified in this study deserve to be viewed as influential. The number of citations will continue to rise, thereby amplifying the impact of OTSR on worldwide research in orthopaedic surgery.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV, systematic retrospective analysis.

The Upsurge in Research and Publication on Articular Cartilage Repair in the Last 10 Years

This study aims to study the publication trends in articular cartilage repair (ACR) techniques, over the last 10 years. A literature search was performed on the PubMed, Web of Science, and SCOPUS databases. We used suitable keywords and Boolean operators (articular cartilage injury AND "marrow stimulation OR microfracture (MFx)," "osteochondral autograft," "osteochondral allograft" and "autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI)," "scaffold"), on January 1, 2019. Trends in publication on these topics were analyzed, focusing on publications over the last 10 years, type of research, authors, institution, and country. There was an increasing trend in publications related to ACR. A search on PubMed revealed 698, 225, 293, 857, and 982 documents on searching for "articular cartilage" AND "marrow stimulation OR microfracture," "osteochondral autograft," "osteochondral allograft," "ACI," and "scaffold," respectively. Similar searches revealed 1154, 219, 330, 1727, and 2742 documents on Web of science and 934, 301, 383, 944, and 2026 on SCOPUS, respectively, in the same order of topics. Overall, most papers were published from the United States and European countries, and Cole BJ was the most published author. There was an increasing trend in the number of publications as well as citations, with international collaboration among researchers. It implies that this field is growing rapidly. The authors from globally recognized and leading clinical institutions in the developed world contributed maximally to these publications. Most of these papers were published in high-impact arthroscopy subspecialty journals. Level of evidence: Level IV.

A decade of Australian and New Zealand orthopaedic publications: a bibliometric trend analysis from 2008 to 2018

PURPOSE

We aimed to apply bibliometric tools to Australian and New Zealand orthopaedic publications produced between 2008 and 2018 to identify the most highly cited publications, author and institution collaboration networks and topic trends. Analysis of the literature can highlight areas of emerging interest and knowledge gaps, and direct future research.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted using Clarivate Analytics Web of Science. Citation analysis was carried out using Web of Science. Collaboration networks were constructed using chord diagrams. Trends in publication topics were analysed using simple linear regression to find the rate of change of publication volume on each topic.

RESULTS

A total of 3097 publications contributed to by 8855 individual authors met inclusion criteria. Across the study period, there was a large increase in the annual volume of publications on the topic of ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) surgery. We also found that collaboration between Australian and New Zealand authors was very low with only 1% (n = 31) of publications including authors from both countries and 0.4% (n = 12) including orthopaedic surgeons or trainees from both.

CONCLUSIONS

Publications on ACL surgery have increased over the past decade, likely due to the presence of competing surgical approaches and the recently recognized risk of osteoarthritis following ACL reconstruction. The overall collaboration between Australian and New Zealand authors was very low which lends itself to opportunities for future research.