Most Cited Publications in Cervical Spine Surgery

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Spinal Surgery

Background:

• Cervical spine surgery is a complex field with a rich history of research.
• Identifying seminal works is crucial for understanding the evolution of surgical practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a citation analysis of the most frequently cited articles in cervical spine surgery.
• To identify and report on the top 100 most cited publications in this specialized surgical domain.

Main Methods:

• Utilized Thomson Reuters Web of Science for citation searching (1945-2015).
• Ranked articles by citation count and analyzed the top 100 based on various metrics.
• Included analysis of author, journal, publication year, country, and institution.

Main Results:

• Top 100 articles published between 1952-2011, with citations ranging from 106 to 1206.
• The 1990s decade had the most publications; Journal of Spine and Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery America were leading journals.
• American investigators and the University of California were most prolific; cervical spine fusion was the most common topic.

Conclusions:

• Identified the 100 most cited articles in cervical spine surgery.
• Provided insights into the historical development and foundational research shaping current practices.
• These influential articles have significantly impacted the contemporary approach to cervical spine surgery.