LAUSR

BACKGROUND There is no previous report regarding the assessment of neurosurgical publications from Africa. Bibliometric analysis was performed in this study to evaluate the contribution of African authors in neurosurgical journals worldwide and to discuss the approaches that can be used to enhance quantity and quality of publications on this issue. METHODS A literature search of neurosurgical publications by the African authors was performed using PubMed database from 1999 to 2018. The total number of articles per country was tabulated and normalized by number of neurosurgeons of each country. RESULTS A total of 974 articles were identified and analyzed between 1999 and 2018 from 31 African countries. African neurosurgical publications have grown remarkably during the last decade. However, there is a wide disparity between the countries productivity especially when normalized by number of neurosurgeons. Most of the research publications are case-series and case-reports with very few clinical trials, meta-analysis, and international collaboration. According to neurosurgical research areas, the most representative sub-specialties were spine, intracranial tumor, hydrocephalus, and head injury. CONCLUSION African neurosurgeons are able to meet the challenges of the new century with appropriate use of its resources and staff regardless of the difficulties they face. However, African neurosurgical research needs to be improved by teaching research methodology and medical writing as well as to be more focused on modern neurosurgical topics by highlighting continental particularities. African neurosurgeons should collaborate with each other (locally, regionally, and abroad) and with foreign centers for better quality research and international visibility.