Faysal A. Yafi

Penile prosthesis (PP) surgery represents a cornerstone intervention for erectile dysfunction (ED). Despite extensive literature, the most-cited primary studies across the full history of the field have not been comprehensively characterized. We aimed to identify and evaluate the 50 most-cited primary studies in PP surgery, describing citation trends, research themes, and academic contributions using bibliometric methods. The Web of Science Core Collection was searched from database inception through 21 April 2025 using predefined PP-related terms. Study design and level of evidence were independently assessed by two reviewers using the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (OCEBM) framework, with disagreements resolved by consensus. The 50 studies (1977–2017) accrued 5652 citations (median, 105; range, 75–215). Most were retrospective observational studies (82.0%) and were assigned Level 4 evidence (56.0%). The Journal of Urology published 28 studies (56.0%). Steven K. Wilson was the most prolific contributor, authoring or co-authoring 10 studies. Non-mutually exclusive themes included surgical outcomes (n = 38), infection ( n = 12), and special populations (n = 6). The findings describe the historical development of PP research and highlight the continued need for geographically diverse, prospective, and higher-quality studies.

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are common among surgeons, but data among urologic microsurgeons are limited. We conducted a 24-item anonymous online survey distributed via email to approximately 6000 urologists between June and July 2021, assessing demographics, operative volume, exercise patterns, ergonomic practices, and musculoskeletal disorders’ symptoms using a modified Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Fifty surgeons responded, response rate: 0.8% (50/6000). Mean age was 48.5 ± 12.4 years and body mass index 26.4 ± 3.1 kg/m². Past-year musculoskeletal disorders’ symptoms were reported by 42/50 (84.0%) and weekly symptoms by 30/50 (60.0%). No clear differences were observed between exercise frequency, operative volume, or years in practice and musculoskeletal disorders’ prevalence based on descriptive comparisons. Operating posture was associated with weekly symptoms: 8/20 (40.0%) of surgeons operating seated reported weekly symptoms versus 22/30 (73.3%) operating standing ( p = 0.038). Weekly low back symptoms were reported by 1/20 (5.0%) seated versus 9/30 (30.0%) standing. Musculoskeletal disorders are highly prevalent among urologic microsurgeons, and seated operative posture may be associated with reduced symptom burden.

Nearly half of the women reaching menopause in the United States (US) experience changes to reproductive health and quality of life. Vaginal estrogen is a widely recognized treatment option for menopausal symptoms. Our study aims to investigate public interest through Google search trends and its comparative prevalence in medical literature for postmenopausal women. A retrospective analysis of Google search trends data for the term “vaginal estrogen” and other related words was conducted, and a time series analysis with a 6-month simple moving average and statistical modeling were employed to evaluate the trends and relationships between these variables. Research volume and relevance were measured through PubMed and Google Scholar, respectively, for post-menopausal symptom management. Our results reveal an increasing search interest in “vaginal estrogen” and the number of articles on this treatment option among post-menopausal women. While this study does not point to causation, it suggests a correlation in growing interest in vaginal estrogen from the public and amongst medical researchers. The data underscore that the medical community’s endorsement of vaginal estrogen may be fostering greater awareness and acceptance of this therapy for post-menopausal women, or vice versa. Further research is needed to determine its cost-effectiveness and equal accessibility to all patients.