A bibliometric analysis of distal tibiofibular syndesmotic injury

Background: Syndesmotic injuries are a common orthopaedic pathology often occurring with athletic activity, occurring in 18 % of ankle sprains. Diagnosis and treatment of these injuries remain controversial.

Methods: A systematic search using the Web of Science database was conducted to identify articles primarily focused on distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injuries. Key factors such as citation count, country of origin, journal and publishing institution, impact factor, authorship, level of evidence, patient demographics, and study type were documented for the 50 most-cited studies.

Results: Research on distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injuries has been growing, with 38 % of the top 50 cited studies representing Level IV evidence. Among these, 38 % focused on diagnosis and assessment. Citation counts varied widely, ranging from 86 to 339 citations. The Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma was the most prominent, accounting for 26 % of the studies, while the USA led in productivity, contributing 50 % of the highest-cited studies. Author DG Lorich had the highest number of included studies (N = 4), and the Hospital for Special Surgery was the leading institution with the most contributions (N = 5).

Conclusion: There is an evident increase in highly cited publications relating to distal tibiofibular syndesmosis injuries, the majority of which originate from a small number of institutions and journals. A high proportion of included studies are of low scientific quality which is concerning given these are the most highly cited studies on this area.