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One hundred citation classics in general surgical journals
Ramesh Paladugu1, Moshe Schein, Syed Gardezi
1Department of Surgery, New York Methodist Hospital, 506 Sixth Street, Brooklyn, New York 11215, USA.
World Journal of Surgery
|September 5, 2002
Summary
This study analyzed the 100 most cited surgical articles, revealing that impactful research often originates from North America and the UK. These classic papers frequently focus on gastrointestinal surgery, trauma, and critical care, influencing surgical practice.
Area of Science:
- Surgery
- Bibliometrics
- Medical History
Background:
- Article citation count reflects impact and author creativity in biomedical fields.
- Identifying highly cited articles aids in understanding seminal contributions to surgical history.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and analyze the characteristics of the 100 most frequently cited articles in general surgery and its subspecialties.
- To understand the origins and attributes of influential surgical research.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Science Citation Index (1945-1995) to identify articles cited 100+ times.
- Selected the top 100 most cited articles for detailed analysis of publication date, origin, journal, and topic.
Main Results:
- The 100 most cited articles were published between 1931-1990, with most after 1960, averaging 405 citations.
- 84% originated from North America (USA, Canada) and the UK, with Harvard and Columbia leading institutions.
- Gastrointestinal surgery and trauma/critical care were the most frequent topics; Annals of Surgery was the leading journal.
Conclusions:
- Seminal surgical contributions often stem from North American or British institutions and are published in high-impact English-language journals.
- Innovations in surgical techniques, prosthetics, and clinical experiences drive high citation rates.
- Understanding these characteristics offers insights into creating impactful, long-standing contributions to surgical practice.