A Bibliometric Review of Software Tools in Plastic Surgery: How They Benefit Surgeons and Improve Practice from 2004 to 2024

Background: Bibliometric analyses of software applications in plastic surgery are relatively limited. This study aims to address this gap by summarizing current research trends and providing insights that may guide future developments in this field.

Methods: Data were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Visualized results, including publication characteristics, disciplines, journals, documents, countries/regions, institutions, authors, and research focuses, were analyzed and optimized using CiteSpace and the "Results Analysis" and "Citation Reports" functions in WoSCC.

Results: A total of 339 publications were identified through manual screening, indicating a general upward trend in annual publications and citations. Key research areas in this field include computer-aided design, modeling, virtual reality, augmented reality, artificial intelligence, social media software, telemedicine, and mobile health. However, challenges such as the high costs of advanced tools, the need for specialized training, and concerns regarding data security and patient privacy are significant barriers. Addressing these issues could be crucial for broader adoption. Despite these obstacles, the potential benefits offered by these technologies suggest their increasing relevance in plastic surgery.

Conclusion: Plastic surgery appears to be evolving toward a more standardized, digitalized, and intelligent future. Software has the potential to transform traditional workflows in both research and practice, contributing to improvements in efficiency and precision in the field.

Level of evidence iv: This journal requires that authors assign a level of evidence to each article. For a full description of these Evidence-Based Medicine ratings, please refer to the Table of Contents or the online Instructions to Authors www.springer.com/00266 .