Over 70 Years of Neurosurgical Research: A Comparison of the Publication Performance of Two Leading Journals: “Acta Neurochirurgica” and “Zentralblatt für Neurochirurgie”

The aim of this study is to compare the publication performance of two leading neurosurgical journals, "Acta Neurochirurgica" and "Zentralblatt für Neurochirurgie," over a period of over 70 years. Trends in the number of publications as well as the thematic development of neurosurgical research will be analyzed. For this study, the abstracts of publications from the years 1951 and 2023 in the two leading neurosurgical journals "Acta Neurochirurgica" and "Zentralblatt für Neurochirurgie" were analyzed by the authors. For the sake of clarity, a thematic categorization into thematic blocks has been made. The publication performance in the analyzed journals has significantly increased from one volume with 21 articles for Acta Neurochirurgica in 1951 to 12 volumes in with 506 articles in 2023. A total of one volume with 32 articles was recorded for Zentralblatt für Neurochirurgie in 1951 versus a total of 6 volumes with 90 articles in 2023. Furthermore, new research areas represented include epilepsy surgery, technological innovations such as robotic surgery and virtual reality, hydrocephalus, advancements in neurosurgical education, deep brain stimulation as well as historical and biographical topics. Overall, the results illustrate a significant enhancement in the publication output and thematic richness of neurosurgical research in over more than 70 years. This development underscores the dynamic and evolving nature of the field, driven by continuous scientific and technological advancements. Our comparison highlights the significant role of the journals "Acta Neurochirurgica" and "Zentralblatt für Neurochirurgie" in disseminating knowledge and promoting scientific progress in neurosurgery in Germany.