Trends in Rhinoplasty Research in Saudi Arabia: A 30-Year Bibliometric Analysis

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Bibliometrics
• Medical Research Trends

Background:

• Rhinoplasty is a prevalent aesthetic surgical procedure globally.
• Saudi Arabia demonstrates a notable volume of published research in rhinoplasty.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the historical, current, and future research output on rhinoplasty in Saudi Arabia.
• To compare Saudi Arabia's rhinoplasty research trends with global trends.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis of rhinoplasty publications from 1995 to 2021.
• Inclusion criteria: first author from Saudi Arabia or significant contribution from Saudi authors.
• Data collected: author count, citations, study design, first author region, and level of evidence; research quality assessed by journal impact factor.

Main Results:

• A significant upward trend in the number of rhinoplasty publications originating from Saudi Arabia was observed.
• No significant increase in the average impact factor of journals was noted.
• The majority of published research articles achieved a high level of evidence (Level I or II).

Conclusions:

• Saudi Arabia shows a growing contribution to rhinoplasty research.
• The quality of research, indicated by the level of evidence, is consistently high.
• Further analysis is needed to understand the long-term impact and future trajectory of rhinoplasty research in the region.