Top 1000 Most Cited Papers in World Neurosurgery

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Bibliometrics
• Scientific Publishing

Background:

• WORLD NEUROSURGERY (WN) has become a leading neurosurgery journal, evolving from Surgical Neurology (1973-2009) to its current title in 2010.
• The journal has experienced substantial growth and expanded its global influence over the past five decades.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of WORLD NEUROSURGERY (WN) publications from 1973 to 2023.
• To identify key authors, institutions, countries, and sponsors contributing to the journal's success.
• To analyze the thematic evolution of the journal's most cited research.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of publications from 1973-2023, divided into two periods: 1973-2009 and 2010-2023.
• Identification of top authors, universities, countries, and sponsors.
• Examination of the top 1000 most cited papers and thematic co-word analysis.

Main Results:

• Total publications increased from 6,567 (Surgical Neurology) to 17,663 (WORLD NEUROSURGERY) by 2023.
• Identification of leading contributors and evidence of WN's expanding global reach.
• Co-word analysis revealed 15 distinct thematic areas within the top 1000 cited papers.

Conclusions:

• WORLD NEUROSURGERY (WN) plays a crucial role in advancing global neurosurgical research.
• The journal has demonstrated significant evolution, increased international impact, and attracted key contributors.
• Bibliometric data provides valuable insights into the journal's historical development and research landscape.