Evolution and Hotspots in Bilateral Total Joint Arthroplasty Research: A Bibliometric Analysis

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Research Trends

Background:

• Bilateral total joint arthroplasty (BTJA), including bilateral total knee arthroplasty (BTKA) and bilateral total hip arthroplasty (BTHA), is a key treatment for degenerative joint disorders.
• These procedures can be performed simultaneously or in stages.
• Understanding research trends is crucial for advancing the field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate trends in bilateral total joint arthroplasty (BTJA) research.
• To identify key authors, journals, countries, and influential papers in BTJA.
• To predict future research areas by analyzing frequent keywords and topics.

Main Methods:

• A bibliometric analysis of articles published between 1992 and 2022 from the Web of Science Core Collection.
• Search terms included variations of hip, knee, arthroplasty, replacement, bilateral, and simultaneous procedures.
• Data analysis utilized Bibliometrix and VOSviewer for metrics and visualizations.

Main Results:

• 736 articles on BTJA were identified, originating from 44 countries, with the United States as the leading contributor.
• Top institutions included Cornell University and Ewha Womans University; Kim YH was the most prolific author.
• The Journal of Arthroplasty published the most impactful and cited articles.

Conclusions:

• Research interest in bilateral total joint arthroplasty (BTJA) has steadily increased since 1982.
• US institutions dominate global scholarly output in BTJA.
• This bibliometric analysis highlights current and emerging trends, offering insights into potential future research hotspots.