A Bibliometric Study of Turkish-Authored Publications and Leadership Roles of Turkish Neurosurgeons in Major Neurosurgery Journals.

Abstract

This study evaluates the contribution of Turkish authors to the main neurosurgical literature, with a focus on the leadership roles of Turkish neurosurgeons, by analyzing publications in the 10 most influential neurosurgery journals between 2015 and 2024. A total of 46,616 articles from the top neurosurgery journals-ranked by impact factor-were reviewed. Data on Turkish authorship, authorship position, specialty, article type, subspecialty, and affiliation were collected. Among the reviewed articles, 1226 (2.63%) included at least 1 Turkish author; 1033 (84.3%) involved at least 1 Turkish neurosurgeon. Turkish authors held first and last authorship in 68.2% and 68.6% of these articles, respectively, with both positions occupied in 58.7%. Most contributions were original research (69.4%). Subspecialty analysis showed strong representation in general neurosurgery, neurovascular, and spine, while functional and pediatric neurosurgery were underrepresented. While 62.5% of articles were produced solely in Turkey, 37.5% involved international institutions, most frequently from the United States and Germany. Turkish contribution varied significantly by journal (P < 0.001), but not by quartile (P = 0.328) or impact factor (P = 0.1600). Turkish neurosurgeons consistently contribute to the global neurosurgical literature, especially through original research and leadership roles. Enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration and increasing visibility in high-impact journals will be key to expanding the academic presence of Turkish neurosurgery.