Adipose Tissue-derived Stem cells in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery: A Bibliometric Study.

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Regenerative Medicine
• Plastic Surgery

Background:

• The rapid growth of literature on adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) complicates manual systematic reviews in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
• Understanding the current research landscape is crucial for navigating the evolving applications of ADSCs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive overview of the scientific output concerning ADSCs in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
• To identify key research trends, institutions, and funding bodies in the field.
• To guide future research endeavors by highlighting emerging areas of interest.

Main Methods:

• Bibliographic records were systematically retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection.
• CiteSpace software was employed for bibliometric analysis of the retrieved publications.
• Analysis included research categories, journal networks, institutional contributions, funding sources, and topic clustering.

Main Results:

• A total of 691 publications were analyzed, revealing 52 distinct research categories with a high degree of interdisciplinarity.
• Thirteen journal subnetworks and 22 topic clusters were identified.
• Leading institutions included Stanford University and the University of Pittsburgh, with significant funding from the National Institutes of Health and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Conclusions:

• This bibliometric analysis offers a panoramic view of ADSC research in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
• The findings highlight emerging trends such as improvements in fat grafting and applications in wound healing, scleroderma, and facial rejuvenation.
• Researchers can leverage this analysis to inform strategic decisions regarding future study directions and collaborations.