Global Trends and Hotspots of Research on the Inflammatory Mechanisms for Spinal Cord Injury: A Bibliometric Analysis

Excessive inflammatory responses following spinal cord injury (SCI) contribute to poor prognosis. Hence, the inflammatory mechanisms underlying SCI development are being increasingly explored. By conducting a bibliometric analysis, this study investigated global research trends and emerging hotspots in this domain.

Relevant studies published between January 1, 2005, and February 28, 2025, were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection database. Quantitative bibliometric analysis was conducted using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and the Bibliometrix package in R software.

A total of 7198 relevant publications were analyzed. The number of publications showed a steadily increasing trend from 2005 to 2022, with a slight decline in 2023 and 2024. China was the leading country in publication volume, while Canada ranked first in average citations, indicating strong research influence. Zhejiang University had the highest publication count, whereas Ohio State University ranked first in both total and average citations. Journal of Neurotrauma was the most prolific journal, and Cuzzocrea Salvatore emerged as the most productive author. Keyword analysis revealed hydrogels, exosomes, and signaling pathways as key research hotspots.

Substantial progress has been achieved in understanding the inflammatory mechanisms underlying SCI development. The volume of related publications continues to increase, predominantly in China and the United States. Researchers from the United States and Canada have the highest academic influence. Emerging research hotspots include hydrogels, exosomes, and signaling pathways.