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Augmented reality in spine surgery: A bibliometric analysis of the top 50 cited articles
Badr Hafiz1, Abdulaziz Hamzah2, Alaa Ashqar3
1Department of Neurosciences, Section of Neurosurgery, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Neurosurg.Badr@gmail.com.
Background:
Augmented reality (AR) is an advanced technology that integrates digital information into real-world environments. AR enables surgeons to visualize and navigate the spine with precision by projecting anatomical details directly into their field of view. This is advantageous in minimally invasive procedures, where AR enhances visibility and accuracy. Despite the growing importance of AR in spine surgery, a comprehensive bibliometric analysis focused on this field has yet to be published. This study aims to address this gap by analyzing the top 50 most-cited articles on AR in spine surgery.
Methodology:
Using the Web of Science (WoS) search engine, with no restriction to time, articles on augmented reality in spine surgery were screened using title and abstract search. Top-cited articles were selected through a rigorous process, and data on authors, journals, categories, and more were extracted.
Results:
The search yielded 235 articles related to AR in spine surgery, totaling 4,167 citations. The top 50 most-cited articles received a total of 1,906 citations, averaging 38.12 citations per article. The oldest article was published in 2010, while the most recent one appeared in 2023. The articles were published in 19 journals, with "Spine" and "World Neurosurgery" being the most prominent. The studies mainly focused on navigation (76%) and explored applications in real patients (44%). Pedicle screw placement was the most studied surgical intervention (56%), and the key outcome was accuracy. The United States and Sweden led in publication output, contributing 21 and 9 articles, respectively.
Conclusion:
This study utilizes a comprehensive bibliometric analysis to provide valuable insights on the current literature of augmented reality in spine surgery. Identifying key contributors, trends, and areas of focus or neglect, it aims to advance the applications of augmented reality, finding areas of potential research development, and improving the understanding of augmented reality in spine surgery.
