Ganglion cysts of the wrist: A bibliometric analysis review of the top 50 highly cited publications

Introduction: Ganglion cysts (GCs) are a form of benign soft tissue mass commonly seen on the dorsum of the wrist that could also form in the hand. They can cause pain and impede physical activities. Despite extensive studies, there has not been a thorough analysis of the top 50 GC articles. This bibliometric analysis examines the most cited research on GC of the wrist with the aim of uncovering existing trends and future directions in the field.

Methods: The authors conducted a comprehensive search utilizing the Web of Science Core Collection on November 16, 2023, to identify the top 50 cited articles on wrist GC published between 1988 and 2023. Subsequently, data were extracted from each article encompassing details such as the title, authors, first/senior authors, publication year, country, journal, total citations, annual average citations, research setting, funding, study design, level of evidence, and primary outcome.

Results: The predominant publication venue was identified as The Journal of Hand Surgery, with (44 %) originating from the United States, followed by contributions from the United Kingdom (14 %), South Korea (8 %), and China (4 %). Key findings included surgical techniques, diagnostic investigations, patient outcomes, treatment plans, epidemiology, and comparative analyses. Notably, there was a peak in citations in the early 2010s.

Conclusion: In recent decades, significant progress has been made in the study of wrist GC, mostly driven by the United States with an emphasis on surgical techniques and diagnostic investigations.