From Pioneer to Participant: Bibliometric Evidence of Plastic Surgery's Changing Role in Orbital Fracture Research

Orbital fractures lie at the intersection of multiple surgical specialties, yet the intellectual ownership of this domain remains contested. This study aimed to conduct the first comprehensive bibliometric analysis examining plastic surgery's role in global orbital fracture research.

Web of Science Core Collection was searched for orbital fracture-related publications from 2010 to 2024. Analysis included publication trends, geographic distribution, institutional contributions, journal patterns, author productivity, citation analysis, and open access status.

The search yielded 1444 publications showing steady growth (CAGR 6.7%). United States (426, 29.5%) and South Korea (185, 12.8%) led contributions, with Asian countries collectively producing 30.5% of publications. The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery served as the primary platform with 317 papers (21.9%), demonstrating its central role in disseminating orbital fracture research. Subject category analysis revealed surgery (751, 52.0%), with dentistry/oral surgery comprising 361 (25.0%) publications. Major plastic surgery journals- PRS (1.9%) and Annals of Plastic Surgery (2.1%)-contributed 4.0% combined. Gold open access adoption remains limited at 17%.

This analysis reveals the evolving landscape of orbital fracture research, where plastic surgery's traditional leadership faces challenges from increasing multidisciplinary participation. While The Journal of Craniofacial Surgery provides an essential repository for orbital fracture knowledge, strategic initiatives including enhanced open access, focus on high-impact research, and international collaborations could strengthen plastic surgery's intellectual influence. The findings suggest opportunities for plastic surgeons to reinvigorate their foundational role in facial trauma through renewed research commitment and strategic publication approaches.