Top 100 Most Cited Articles on Intraoperative Image-Guided Navigation in Spine Surgery.

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Medical Technology

Background:

• Navigation technologies are crucial in modern spine surgery for enhanced precision and risk reduction.
• This study represents the first bibliometric analysis of navigation in spine surgery literature.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze the 100 most cited articles on navigation in spine surgery.
• To provide insights into publication trends, influential authors, and leading journals in the field.

Main Methods:

• Systematic search of Scopus and Google Scholar for navigation in spine surgery articles (38,057 identified).
• Analysis of the top 100 most cited articles for bibliometric data including citations, authors, institutions, publication year, and evidence level.
• Search conducted in October 2023.

Main Results:

• The 100 most cited articles were published between 1995 and 2019, with 46% in the 2010-2019 decade.
• The *Spine Journal* published the most articles (34%), and the United States contributed the most (39%).
• Most publications were clinical research/reviews (94%) with evidence grades IV-V (63%); a trend towards augmented reality incorporation was observed.

Conclusions:

• This bibliometric analysis offers valuable insights into the evolution and trends of spine surgery navigation literature.
• Technological advancements correlate with an increase in higher-level evidence articles.
• Pivotal articles identified significantly influence evidence-based medicine, surgical training, and industry innovation in navigated spine surgery.