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Application of three-dimensional printing in plastic surgery: a bibliometric analysis
Jie Tian1,2, Ming-Jia Jin3, Yang Gao3
1Department of Thoracic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Frontiers in Surgery
|August 19, 2024
Summary
This bibliometric study reveals the growing impact of three-dimensional (3D) printing in plastic surgery, highlighting key research areas and future hotspots like virtual surgical planning.
Area of Science:
- Medical Engineering
- Plastic Surgery
- Bibliometrics
Background:
- Three-dimensional (3D) printing is increasingly applied in plastic surgery.
- A comprehensive bibliometric analysis of this field was lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To map the knowledge structure of 3D printing in plastic surgery.
- To identify research hotspots and trends in the field.
Main Methods:
- Bibliometric analysis of 1,057 publications (1995-2024) from Web of Science Core Collection.
- Utilized VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and R package 'bibliometrix' for analysis.
- Examined publications, authors, institutions, regions, and journals.
Main Results:
- Steady growth in publications, led by Europe, Asia, North America, and Oceania.
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University identified as a leading institution.
- Key journals include Journal of Craniofacial Surgery and Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.
- Florian M. Thieringer is the most prolific and cited author.
- Research focuses on medical education and surgical procedures.
- "3D printing", "virtual surgical planning", and "reconstructive/orthognathic surgery" are future hotspots.
Conclusions:
- The study provides a detailed overview of 3D printing's evolution in plastic surgery.
- 3D printing technologies are expected to profoundly impact clinical practice and patient outcomes.
