Clubfoot and the Ponseti Method: A Bibliometric Analysis

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Bibliometrics
• Medical Research

Background:

• Clubfoot is a congenital condition requiring effective treatment.
• The Ponseti method has become a leading treatment approach.
• Understanding the research landscape is vital for advancing clubfoot care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a bibliometric analysis of clubfoot research.
• To quantify and describe the scientific literature on clubfoot.
• To identify key institutions, journals, researchers, and countries publishing on clubfoot.

Main Methods:

• Bibliometric analysis using Web of Science.
• Searches for "clubfoot" and "Ponseti" articles.
• Data analysis using Biblioshiny software in RStudio.

Main Results:

• 2,177 articles on clubfoot (since 1902, 3% annual growth).
• 762 articles on the Ponseti method (since 1992, 13.9% annual growth).
• The Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics is a major publication venue.

Conclusions:

• Clubfoot literature has grown substantially, with a marked increase in studies on the Ponseti method.
• Increased global adoption of the Ponseti method necessitates further international research collaboration.
• Collaboration is essential for evaluating outcomes and enhancing service delivery for clubfoot treatment.