# Tibial shaft fractures: A bibliometric analysis of the top 50 most cited publications

## TL;DR

This paper analyzes the 50 most cited studies on tibial shaft fractures to identify research trends and gaps in treatment outcomes and study quality.

## Contribution

The study provides a bibliometric analysis of top-cited tibial shaft fracture publications, highlighting focus areas and evidence levels.

## Key findings

- Treatment outcomes and surgical techniques were the main focus of most studies.
- Over half of the studies were retrospective cohort or case control with level III evidence.
- McMaster University Hospital and the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery were most prolific in publishing these studies.

## Abstract

Tibial shaft fractures (TSFs) are a frequent presentation within orthopaedics, most often occurring in young males following a high energy trauma. The appropriate management of these fractures is crucial, ensuring patients have the best chance at achieving a functional recovery. In spite of the vast number of studies conducted on TSFs, the quality of scientific evidence and various trends related to this injury remains poor. The aim of our analysis is to identify these trends within the 50 most cited publications pertaining to TSFs.

A bibliometric analysis was carried out using the Web of Science platform to report the 50 most cited publications associated with TSFs. The publications were screened using definite inclusion and exclusion criteria. Features such as institution, authorship, level of evidence and patient demographics were reported.

The 50 most cited publications in total listed 10, 407 citations, with the most cited study receiving 1075 citations. Treatment outcomes (66 %) and surgical technique (32 %) were the primary focus of the majority of the publications. Retrospective cohort and case control studies made up almost half of the studies (48 %), many being of level III evidence. The McMaster University Hospital was the institution that produced the greatest number of studies, with the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery having published most of the articles.

Many publications exist related to TSFs, primarily focusing on treatment outcomes and how to minimize the incidence of non-union following surgical fixation. However, a significant number of the publications were of low evidence and were identified as being retrospective in nature. Following this analysis, future research should aim to produce studies of a higher quality and focus on areas that carry the most promise or influence, such as the use of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 in intramedullary nailing of TSFs.