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Transorbital approach: a bibliometric analysis from 1948 to 2024
Alberto Di Somma1,2,3, Héctor D Vargas-Moreno4, Marta Codes5
1Departament de Cirurgia i Especialitats Medicoquirúrgiques, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de La Salut, Universitat de Barcelona (UB), Barcelona, Spain. adisomma@clinic.cat.
Background:
Transorbital surgery has substantially evolved over the last century, with some notable and at times controversial developments, such as its use for transorbital leucotomies, the induction of cerebral ischemia in animal stroke models, and, more recently, the development of neuroendoscopic transorbital procedures. This review aims to analyze the evolution of transorbital surgery from 1948 to 2024 using scientometric techniques, assessing its impact and emerging trends over time, particularly during the past two decades marked by the surge of the endoscopic transorbital approach (eTOA).
Methods:
An advanced search of the Web of Science Core Collection was performed using the topic "Transorbital." Publications from 1948 to 2024 were screened for thematic relevance and analyzed with R (bibliometrix), Python, VOSviewer, Genderize.io, and Microsoft Excel. Scientometric indicators included publication and citation trends, keyword evolution, institutional and geographic output, collaboration networks, and gender distribution. Full and fractional counting were applied for country- and institution-level analyses.
Results:
A total of 538 publications were included. Scientific activity increased markedly after 2010, accounting for 64% of all articles and demonstrating higher international collaboration. A thematic shift was observed from early ischemia models toward anatomical and clinical applications of the endoscopic transorbital approach. The most prolific institutions were the University of Naples Federico II, the University of Barcelona, Sungkyunkwan University, and the University of Washington, while the United States, Italy, South Korea, and Spain contributed the largest national outputs. Gender analysis showed persistent underrepresentation of female authors.
Conclusion:
The transorbital approach has evolved into a versatile minimally invasive route supported by a rapidly expanding research community. Despite the growth in publication volume and collaborative activity, prospective clinical evidence remains limited. This bibliometric review outlines historical trends, current research structures, and opportunities for future investigation in transorbital surgery.
