Publications From Saudi Arabia in Orthopedic Surgery in the Recent Six Years: A Systematic Review

To evaluate the trends, quality, and scope of orthopedic research output from Saudi Arabia between 2017 and 2022, providing insights for future research planning and development. A systematic search was conducted on the PubMed database to identify English-language orthopedic publications published from Saudi Arabia between January 2017 and December 2022. Articles were screened in stages and categorized based on subspecialty, study design, geographical origin, and citation metrics. Data analysis was performed using Stata 15 (Stata Corp LLC, Texas, USA). A total of 348 articles met the inclusion criteria. The annual publication rate increased significantly over the six years, peaking in 2022. The most frequently studied subspecialty was spine surgery, accounting for 75 articles (21.5%), followed by arthroplasty with 69 articles (19.8%). Case reports with 98 articles (28.1%) and cross-sectional studies with 90 articles (25.8%) were the most common study designs. Geographically, the central region produced the majority of publications, with 208 articles (59.7%). Citation analysis revealed the highest impact in spine surgery (H-index = 12), followed by sports medicine (H-index = 10) and pediatric orthopedics (H-index = 9). Orthopedic research in Saudi Arabia has shown steady growth, with particular strengths in spine and sports research. However, there is a need for broader subspecialty representation, enhanced research quality, and greater geographic diversity. Strategic investments in research infrastructure, mentorship, and high-impact studies are essential to elevate the visibility and clinical relevance of Saudi orthopedic research.