The Top 100 Endoscopic Spine Surgery Publications: An Updated Bibliometric Review.

Abstract

To identify the current top 100 most-cited publications on endoscopic spine surgery (ESS) and analyze emerging trends from the past 5 years. A 2-step process was used to identify the top 100 most-cited articles. Eight key phrases commonly used in ESS research were utilized to collect relevant articles from 3 research databases. The list from each database was arranged by number of citations and compared with determine the top 100 most-cited publications in ESS. The top 100 most-cited publications had a minimum of 94 citations and a maximum of 648. Most of the articles were published after 2006, and nearly one-third were published in Spine. South Korea, the United States, and Germany were the biggest contributors. During the past 5 years, research productivity has increased exponentially. The updated list demonstrates emerging trends within the field, including changing levels of engagement from different countries and authors, along with new techniques and pathologies. This analysis highlights the most influential research shaping current practices in ESS, offering clinicians insight into evolving surgical techniques, outcomes, and global contributions. Understanding these trends can guide evidence-based decisions and promote the adoption of innovative and minimally invasive approaches.