Evolution of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome Research: A Detailed Bibliometric Study

Year 2025, Volume: 7 Issue: 1, 55 - 63, 15.01.2025

Sercan Çapkın , Ali İhsan Kılıç , Fatih Şeker , Mehmet Akdemir , Mahmud Aydın , Ertuğrul Şahin

https://doi.org/10.37990/medr.1560952

Abstract

Aim: Thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) is a complex clinical condition caused by the compression of neurovascular structures in the thoracic outlet. Over the past few decades, research on TOS has expanded significantly. This study aims to analyze the literature on TOS using bibliometric methods to identify critical trends, influential authors, prominent themes, and emerging topics in the field.
Material and Method: A comprehensive literature search was conducted using the Web of Science (WoS) database for articles on TOS published between 1980 and 2023, employing the keyword 'thoracic outlet syndrome.' The collected data were analyzed using bibliometric methods. VOSviewer software was utilized to visualize bibliometric networks and map critical findings. Citation analysis was performed to identify influential journals and significant articles in the field. Additionally, keyword clustering and trend analyses were conducted to explore the thematic landscape of TOS research.
Results: In a literature search on TOS, 2248 publications were found, with 1509 journal articles (67.13%) included in the bibliometric summary. The most common research area was surgery (633 articles, 41.94%), and the United States had the highest publication productivity (684 articles, 45.32%). The University of California System had the highest number of publications among institutions (62 articles, 4.1%). These 1509 articles received 7831 citations (6596 excluding self-citations), averaging 13.1 citations per article and with an h-index of 57. 'Annals of Vascular Surgery' published the most articles (71, 4.7%), while 'Journal of Vascular Surgery' had the highest number of cited articles (65, 4.3%), accumulating 2563 citations.
Conclusion: This bibliometric analysis provides valuable insights into the evolution and trends of research on TOS. The keyword analysis offers a roadmap for researchers to design new studies. Additionally, the study highlights the influence of economic size and development levels on academic productivity in TOS, underscoring the importance of promoting multidisciplinary studies, especially in less developed countries.

Keywords

Thoracic outlet syndrome, bibliometric analysis, citation analysis, Web of Science, VOSviewer

Ethical Statement

Ethical approval was not required for this study, as it did not involve any human or animal participants, nor did it include any procedures that would necessitate ethical oversight according to institutional or national guidelines

Supporting Institution

This study did not receive any financial support or funding from any institution or organization.

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