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https://doi.org/10.18502/jsp.v2i2.12627

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authors

  • Yazid Maghrabi

    Yazid Maghrabi

    Division of Neurosurgery, Neuroscience Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
    https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0749-7307
  • Mowadah Ashgar

    Mowadah Ashgar

    Division of Neurosurgery, Neuroscience Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
    https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2934-6868
  • Sara Aljohani

    Sara Aljohani

    Faculty of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdelaziz for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
    https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3283-1936
  • Razan Alqarni

    Razan Alqarni

    Faculty of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdelaziz for Health Sciences, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
    https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9173-8371
  • Saleh Baeesa

    Saleh Baeesa

    Division of Neurosurgery, Neuroscience Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
    https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3053-7912

Published Date

  • Jul 4, 2023

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

Journal of Spine Practice (JSP) / Journal of Spine Practice (JSP): Volume 2, Issue 2 / Pages 51-60

Abstract

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.

Keywords:

Spine surgery, Bibliometric, Quality, Evolution, Saudi Arabia, Neurosurgery, Orthopedics

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