Top 50 Most Cited Studies in Upper Limb Compartment Syndrome: A Bibliometric Analysis

Introduction Upper extremity compartment syndrome, which can have variable etiologies, is a serious time-dependent condition that requires urgent surgical intervention to reduce its high morbidity and mortality rates. As research on this topic has grown, its significance in everyday clinical practice has become increasingly clear. This bibliometric study aimed to thoroughly analyze the most-cited 50 articles on upper extremity compartment syndrome. Methods The Web of Science Core Collection database was searched on October 3, 2024, utilizing the keywords "Compartment Syndrome" AND "Upper Limb" OR "Upper Extremity." The results were sorted by citation count from highest to lowest. Studies included in the analysis were limited to those written in English, published in peer-reviewed journals, and focused specifically on compartment syndrome in the upper limbs. Results The most-cited 50 articles on upper extremity compartment syndrome were published between 1980 and 2023, with peaks in the early 2000s and the 2010s. The total number of citations per article ranged from 6 to 175, with an average of 37.28 citations per article. Most articles were published in the Hand Clinics Journal (6 out of 50), followed by the Journal of Hand Surgery (5 out of 50), and the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (3 out of 50). The United States was the leading contributor, producing 37 articles (74%). The topic "Causes and Mechanisms of Compartment Syndrome" accounted for 40% of the articles. Regarding the study design, (38%) were case reports, and (30%) were review articles. In terms of the level of evidence, 60% of the studies were classified as Level IV. Conclusion A comprehensive bibliometric analysis of data from the most influential publications on upper extremity compartment syndrome was conducted. The analysis identified publication dynamics and trends, and highlighted research gaps. More high-impact studies are warranted to enhance the comprehension and understanding of these conditions.