Influential articles on pediatric clavicle injuries: A bibliometric analysis

Clavicle injuries are among the most common pediatric injuries. This study aimed to identify the 50 most cited articles on pediatric and adolescent clavicle injuries, characterize their publication trends, and assess the correlation between citation metrics and study quality.

A bibliometric analysis was performed using Web of Science and Scopus databases, identifying the 50 most cited articles on pediatric and adolescent clavicle injuries. Data extracted included citation counts, citation density, study design, level of evidence, and publication characteristics. Methodological quality was assessed using the modified Coleman Methodology Score (mCMS) and Methodological Index for Non-Randomized Studies (MINORS), where applicable. Correlations between citation metrics and quality scores were evaluated using Spearman correlation.

Among the 50 most cited articles published between 1984 and 2019, the majority (70%) were published in the last decade and in Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics (38%). Most studies originated from the United States (74%). The mean citation count was 31.9 ± 19.7, with a citation density of 2.6 ± 1.4 citations/year. Level 4 evidence predominated (73%), with no level 1 studies identified. The average mCMS and MINORS scores were 40.1 and 13.1, respectively. No significant correlation was found between citation rank and methodological quality scores, although citation rank was significantly correlated with citation density (r _s = -0.66, p < 0.001).

The most cited studies on pediatric clavicle injuries are predominantly low-level evidence and retrospective in nature. Citation frequency was not associated with methodological quality, suggesting that article influence is often driven by historical context, novelty, or foundational relevance rather than study rigor.