Application of the Relative Citation Ratio to Assess Common Characteristics of the Highest Impact Articles in Reconstructive Microsurgery

Background The purpose of this review is to characterize themes among the five reconstructive microsurgery articles achieving the highest Relative Citation Ratios (RCRs) published in the past 20 years in the top journals. In doing so, researchers may be better informed on how to propose salient research questions to impact the field and understand future directions in plastic surgery. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted with articles published in the top three journals based on the Impact Factor: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery, and Annals of Plastic Surgery. A search strategy with controlled vocabulary and keywords was conducted in PubMed to extract all reconstructive microsurgery (RM) articles published between 2002 and 2020. A two-stage screening process to include only RM studies was performed, with a third reviewer moderating discordances. Articles' RCR data were extracted from the National Institutes of Health iCite. The top five articles with the highest RCRs were selected for analysis. Results We identified three features reflecting educational and clinical trends within RM that might be representative of super-performance in plastic surgery journals. These include (1) relevance to high-yield techniques in RM such as tissue flap procurement, indications, and outcomes, (2) identification of gaps in current knowledge of these topics, and (3) use of media and algorithms to provide clear recommendations. Conclusion Researchers hoping to have an impactful contribution should pose research questions that address these key themes. The RCR index is a valuable tool to appreciate performance within microsurgery literature and clinical trends within the field.