AUTHOR=Ding Xing , Yan Ming , Wu Jinze , Xu Chongqing , Yan Yinjie , Yu Zhixing , Yin Mengchen , Xu Jinhai , Ma Junming , Mo Wen 

TITLE=Top 50 Most Cited Articles on Thoracic Ossification of Posterior Longitudinal Ligament

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Surgery

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/surgery/articles/10.3389/fsurg.2022.868706

DOI=10.3389/fsurg.2022.868706

ISSN=2296-875X

ABSTRACT=Study Design: Bibliometric analysis.
Objective: Over the last several decades, the field of thoracic ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament (T-OPLL) has evolved unprecedentedly and the literature of T-OPLL has increased significantly. The purpose of this study is to identify and review the top 50 most cited publications related to T-OPLL. 
Methods: The most frequently cited 50 articles in this field until Oct 30, 2021 were identified by searching Web of Science. We ranked articles based on the citation number. Through bibliometric method, we evaluated the following information: article title, first author, year of publication, journal of publication, total number of citations, country and study topic. 
Results: The number of citations of included studies ranged from 20 to 108, with a mean number of 45.4. The journal Spine published most articles (20), followed by Spinal Cord (5) and European Spine (5). All of these articles were contributed by 38 first authors, Yamazaki (4), Fujimura (3) and Aizawa (3) published more than 2 articles. In the respect of productive countries, Japan (39) contributed most papers. Tomita contributed the most cited article in 1990 on Spine, which was the first ever report of circumferential decompression for thoracic myelopathy due to T-OPLL  
Conclusion: The top 50 influential articles on T-OPLL were identified and analyzed in this study. It will undoubtedly provide a comprehensive and detailed basis for the orthopedic and neurosurgery physicians to make clinical decision and assimilate research focus of spine surgery.