Contribution of Saudi Neurosurgeons to the International Neurosurgical Literature: a Bibliometric Analysis of Trends Over the Last Three Decades.

This review is a bibliometric analysis of the contribution of neurosurgeons from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) to the international neurosurgical literature over the last three decades. The study aimed at determining changes in publication trends over time and assessing the impact of these changes on citation numbers. All publications in the PubMed-indexed neurosurgical journals that were authored by at least one Saudi neurosurgeon were selected.

Predictors of citation rates for research publications in Neurosciences.

Objectives: To identify the predictors of citation rates for research publication in Neurosciences.

Methods: All original articles including meta-analyses (MAs) and systematic reviews (SRs) that were published in Neurosciences during 2011 to 2019 were reviewed. The impact of several predictors on citation rates was assessed using correlation coefficient and mean difference tests.

Placebo Effect of Sham Spine Procedures in Chronic Low Back Pain: A Systematic Review.

Background: The literature lacks information about the characteristics of the placebo effect following sham spine procedures for chronic low back pain. We aim to evaluate the effect using pain score data from the sham arms of published trials.

Methods: Relevant trials were selected and reviewed.

Impact of country self citation on the ranking of the top 50 countries in clinical neurology.

Objectives: To examine the factors that influence country self-citation rate (SCR) in clinical neurology and to assess the impact of self-citation on the ranking of the top 50 countries.

Methods: SCImago Journal & Country Rank was used to collect data for the 50 most cited countries in clinical neurology during 1996-2019. Country SCR was correlated with several productivity parameters and examined statistically.

Impact of country-specific characteristics on scientific productivity in clinical neurology research.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to identify the top 50 countries in the world in clinical neurology research and to use their data to assess the impact of a number of country-specific characteristics on scientific productivity in clinical neurology.

Methods: The SCImago Journal & Country Rank (SCR) web site was used to identify the top 50 countries in the world based on their total documents in clinical neurology. Using their data 5 country-specific characteristics and 6 productivity indicators (total documents, total cites, -index, citable documents, self-cites and citations per document) were correlated and examined statistically.

Efficacy of intraoperative epidural steroids in lumbar discectomy: a systematic review.

Background: This study is a descriptive review of the literature aimed at examining the efficacy of the use of intraoperative epidural steroids in lumbar disc surgery, a matter that remains controversial.

Methods: The relevant clinical trials were selected from databases and reviewed. The methodological quality of each included study was assessed and graded for perceived risk of bias.

Rapid evolution of a choroid plexus papilloma in an infant.

Choroid plexus papilloma (CPP) is primarily found in children less than 2 years of age but can also be diagnosed prenatally. The presentation of a large CPP during infancy is not uncommon and surgical excision is usually recommended without delays. As a result, information about the growth rate of CPP during infancy is lacking.

Brain abscess formation as a CSF shunt complication: a case report.

The formation of a brain abscess as a result of a cerebrospinal fluid shunt complication is extremely rare in the literature with only 7 cases reported in the last 20 years. We report a patient that developed a brain abscess adjacent to a functioning ventricular catheter in the presence of shunt infection by another pathogen. Clinicians should consider this complication in any shunted patient with clinical features of infection and suggestive changes on imaging however subtle.