The top 100 highly cited articles on anterior cruciate ligament from 2000 to 2019: A bibliometric and visualized analysis.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION\nBibliometrics can trace the overall research trend in a specific field. To our knowledge, there has been no comprehensive bibliometric analysis of all anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) research from 2000-2019. We provided a bibliometric and visualized analysis of the top 100 highly-cited articles on ACL indexed by the Web of Science (WoS) to provide researchers with the present research status and the potential direction of ACL research.\n\n\nHYPOTHESIS\nA bibliometric and visualized analysis of the top 100 highly-cited articles on ACL may identify the research trends, popular journals, core countries, influential institutions and authors in this field.\n\n\nMATERIAL AND METHODS\nWe obtained data from the WoS Core Collection on February 20, 2020. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted based on the WoS. Collaboration and keywords analysis was performed using the VosView software.\n\n\nRESULTS\nThe top 100 highly-cited literatures included 88 articles and 12 reviews. The average total citations was 325 (ranging 197 to 1,423). The article with 1,432 citations published by Hewett TE et al. in 2005 was the most influential reference. Sixteen cohort studies and 14 clinical randomized controlled trials were included among the 100 literatures. Twenty-three journals published the top 100 literatures. The American Journal of Sports Medicine\u2009published 44 papers with 15,665 citations. The USA published 65 highly-cited articles. The University of Pittsburgh published 13 literatures with 3,966 citations. Hewett TE published 11 papers with 4,806 citations. Extensive collaboration existed worldwide. Reconstruction, kinematics, posterolateral bundle, in-situ forces, neuromuscular control, long-term follow-up, tunnel placement, and prevention were the most common keywords.\n\n\nDISCUSSION\nIn this field, The American Journal of Sports Medicine was the most influential journal. The USA was the most productive and influential country. Researchers and institutions from North America and Europe contributed the most. Regarding the treatments for ACL injuries, we do need well-reported and good-quality enduring randomized trials to assess the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of current treatments. Level of proof: IV; retrospective analysis.