Current State of Research on Middle Meningeal Artery Embolization for Chronic Subdural Hematoma: A Bibliometric Analysis

Introduction: This study evaluates highly cited articles on middle meningeal artery (MMA) embolization for chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH).

Methods: Web of Science database was queried to identify the top 50 most cited articles about MMAE for cSDH. Mean total citations, mean total citation by year, output volume of authors and institutions, and other analyses were conducted.

Results: The top 50 most cited articles were published between 2000 and 2022. Retrospective studies comprised the majority (58%), followed by review articles (n=9, 18%) and prospective studies (12%). Most articles were published in traditional journals (n=32, 64%), while 36% (n=18)were open access. The top three journals were World Neurosurgery (n=10, 20%), Journal of Neurointerventional Surgery (18%), and Neurosurgery (n=5, 10%). The mean citation count per article was 20.0 ± 25.0, with an average of 4.3 ± 4.6 citations per year. The top three senior authors were Jared Knopman (n=5, 10%), Felipe C. Albuquerque (n=4, 8%), and Peter Kan (n=3, 6%), while the leading institutions were Barrow Neurological Institute (10%), Weill Cornell Medicine (n=5, 10%), and University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (n=4, 8%). Most articles (n=37, 74%) originated from the USA, with contributions from Japan (n=5, 10%) and Germany (n=4, 8%), and the most cited study was from South Korea.

Conclusion : This bibliometric analysis highlights the significant growth and recognition of middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) for chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) in recent years. The findings indicate increasing interest and impact of this minimally invasive treatment option, suggesting a potential paradigm shift in cSDH management towards endovascular approaches.