Three decades of spine surgery research evolution in Saudi Arabia: A bibliometric analysis

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Background: Over recent decades, there has been a constant increase in the numbers and quality of spine surgery research. We herein plan to analyze the evolution of spine surgery-related publications from Saudi Arabia for three decades. Materials and Methods: A systematic review of the literature with predefined inclusion criteria was carried out, utilizing multiple significant databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, and Embase). Multiple search terms were used to retrieve related articles. Numerous variables were collected and analyzed, such as articles’ level of evidence, citation numbers, study design, and author-related information. For comparison, the study period was divided into three time frames: 1990–2000, 2001–2010, and 2011–2022. Results: Out of 2969 articles, only 254 met the inclusion criteria of the current study. During the period 2011–2022, an increase of 41% was observed in the number of publications. The highest number of publications was in 2020 (n = 36, 14.2%). Level IV comprised the highest percentage (n = 130, 51%). High-quality articles (Levels I and II) had increased (11%) from 2011 to 2022. The most commonly utilized study design was case reports (44%). Seven randomized controlled trials were identified during the study period. Most of the included articles were from Riyadh province (65%). Research interest revolved around general spine care, trauma, and oncology in 2011–2022. Conclusion: This is the first study to quantitatively analyze spine surgery-related research in Saudi Arabia. However, there has been significant development in several publications in the last decade, but the quality still needs to be improved. Therefore, we should aim to produce higher-quality studies to meet the country’s 2030 vision goals to be one of the leading nations in spine surgery practice.

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