Iran's Significant Advances in Orthognathic Surgery Research

The aim of this article was to perform a bibliometric analysis of Iranian researchers in orthognathic surgery.

A bibliographical search for orthognathic surgery literature on Iran was conducted on Wef of Science. Mendeley and Microsoft Excel were used for tabulation and data visualization. Some statistical tests were performed with a 95% confidence interval, considered significant.

From 7,535 articles, 86 included at least one Iranian author, making Iran the second highest contributor in the Middle East after Turkey. Notable topics beyond orthodontic treatment included cosmetic surgery, obstructive sleep apnea, blood clotting, and anesthesiology, with complications being the most studied. Emerging themes were Virtual Surgical Planning and technology. Statistical analysis showed a very high Pearson correlation between the number of ranked institutions and both the number of published articles (ρ=0.85) and the quantity of citations (ρ=0.80), and a moderate correlation with the H-index (ρ=0.46). No correlation was found between citations per document and the number of ranked institutions (ρ= -0.27).

Iran is a leading country in the field of orthognathic surgery, both regionally and globally. This article provides valuable insights for Iranian researchers and academics, highlighting the potential of international collaboration and free open-source technology to advance knowledge in areas like Virtual Surgical Planning. Promoting global partnerships and utilizing innovative technologies can enhance patient outcomes and benefit practitioners in resource-limited regions worldwide.