The 50 most cited studies on trochleoplasty.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Sports Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Trochleoplasty (TP) is an evolving surgical technique for patellofemoral instability.
• Assessing the impact and quality of existing literature is crucial for guiding future research and clinical practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the 50 most cited publications on trochleoplasty (TP).
• To examine bibliographic parameters and evaluate correlations between citation count, methodological quality, and other factors.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search identified the 50 most cited TP studies.
• Studies were evaluated using bibliographic parameters, level of evidence (LOE), citation counts, Modified Coleman Methodological Score (MCMS), Methodological Index for Non-Randomised Studies (MINORS), and Radiologic Methodology and Quality Scale (MQCSRE).

Main Results:

• The journal 'Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy' (KSSTA) published 30% of the top 50 articles.
• European institutes, particularly France and Switzerland, dominated the publications.
• Case series (50%) and systematic reviews (32%) were the most prevalent study types, with a predominance of Level IV evidence (82%).
• High citation counts did not statistically correlate with higher study quality scores (p > 0.05).

Conclusions:

• There is increasing scientific interest in TP for patellofemoral instability.
• The current body of highly cited TP literature lacks high Level of Evidence (LOE) and methodological quality.
• This review serves as a resource for orthopaedic surgeons to identify the most impactful academic contributions to TP.