Mesut AKKAYA
Baltalimanı Dergisi - 2026;2(1):26-30
Objective: This study aims to determine the scientific evolution, global trends, and research focus in the field by analyzing the top 50 articles with the highest impact in the discoid lateral meniscus (DLM) literature using bibliometric methods. Methods: In March 2025, the Web of Science Core Collection database was searched using the following query: ("discoid meniscus" OR "discoid lateral meniscus") AND meniscus. The articles were ranked by the number of citations, and the 50 studies with the highest number of citations related to the diagnosis, treatment, or prognosis of the discoid lateral meniscus were included in the study. The articles were analyzed quantitatively in terms of publication year, journal, author, country, number of citations, study design, and level of evidence; and qualitatively in terms of research focus and methodological characteristics. Bibliometric visualization was performed using the VOSviewer software. Results: The 50 articles reviewed were published between 1981 and 2022, with an average citation count of 103.5 per article. The United States (n=27) maintained its global leadership in terms of the highest number of publications and citations, while South Korea and Japan demonstrated a strong academic impact reflecting East Asia's clinical experience. Arthroscopy (n=8) was identified as the most productive journal. At the individual level, Hashimoto Y. and Nakamura H. stand out with their studies (1). Level IV studies accounted for the majority (50%) of the publications; however, the proportion of higher-level evidence studies (Levels I-II) has been steadily increasing in recent years. Conclusion: The DLM literature has shown significant progress from case series to evidence-based surgical algorithms. Current research focuses on surgical techniques and postoperative complications (such as OCD development), but biomechanical and basic science studies remain insufficient. This bibliometric study identifies the main research trends in the literature on the discoid meniscus and highlights potential gaps in this field.
