Growing trend of China's contribution to the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery: a 10-year study of the literature.

Background: In the past decade, plastic and reconstructive surgery in China has achieved great advances. However, the scientific publications in plastic and reconstructive surgery in the major regions of China-Mainland, Hong Kong, and Taiwan are unknown. We therefore intended to reveal the contribution of articles from Chinese authors to the field of plastic and reconstructive surgery.

Methods: Articles published in the 6 journals in plastic and reconstructive surgery originating from Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan in 2000 to 2009 were retrieved from the PubMed database and Journal Citation Reports. The number of total articles, 5-year impact factors (5 years-IF), and citations were tabulated to assess both the quantity and quality of research arising from China.

Results: From 2000 to 2009, there were 568 articles from China, including 225 from Mainland China, 317 from Taiwan, and 26 from Hong Kong. The annual total numbers of articles from the 3 Chinese regions increased gradually between 2000 and 2009 (from 40 to 100). From 2007, the number of articles published from Mainland China exceeded Taiwan. Taiwan had the highest accumulated 5 years-IFs, average 5 years-IF, total citations, and average citations of each article. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery was the most popular journal in China.

Conclusions: The number of articles published from Chinese authors increased markedly from 2000 to 2009, particularly from Mainland China, since 2004.