Investigating Research Hotspots of Combat-related Spinal Injuries: A 30-year Bibliometric Analysis Study

Area of Science:

• Bibliometrics and scientometrics
• Military medicine
• Trauma surgery

Background:

• Combat-related spinal injuries (CRSIs) present complex challenges due to battlefield conditions and multiple traumas.
• Existing research and clinical practices for CRSIs require enhancement for improved patient outcomes.
• A systematic analysis of CRSI research is needed to guide future clinical and scientific endeavors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct the first bibliometric analysis of combat-related spinal injuries (CRSIs) research.
• To identify research frontiers, hotspots, and emerging trends in CRSI over 30 years.
• To visualize the development and impact of CRSI clinical trials and publications.

Main Methods:

• Collected 201 CRSI publications from Web of Science Core Collection (1993-2023).
• Utilized VOSviewer and CiteSpace for knowledge map visualization and trend analysis.
• Analyzed publication trends, country contributions, journal impact, and keyword co-occurrence.

Main Results:

• A consistent upward trend in CRSI publications over 30 years, with two periods of rapid growth.
• The USA leads in publications, influence, and international collaboration in CRSI research.
• Keyword analysis identified 5 distinct research categories within the CRSI literature.

Conclusions:

• This bibliometric study provides a comprehensive overview of the CRSI research landscape.
• Identified research hotspots and clusters offer insights into the field's evolution.
• The findings serve as a valuable guide for clinicians and researchers focusing on CRSI.