Emerging robotic platforms in urologic surgery: a bibliometric and visualization analysis of global trends and...

Robot-assisted surgery has become an important component of modern urologic practice, and the emergence of alternative robotic platforms has accelerated platform diversification beyond the conventional da Vinci multiport ecosystem. However, the global research landscape and evidence evolution of emerging robotic platforms in urology remain incompletely characterized. Publications related to emerging robotic platforms in urology were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection from inception to May 15, 2026. After screening, 264 articles and reviews were included. CiteSpace and bibliometrix were used to analyze publication trends, geographic and institutional contributions, collaboration networks, co-cited references, journals, keyword evolution, burst terms, and thematic structure. Annual output remained limited before 2021 but increased rapidly thereafter, reaching the highest levels in 2024 and 2025. Italy, China, and Japan were the most productive countries, whereas the United States showed the highest betweenness centrality in the country collaboration network. Research activity was concentrated in several high-volume institutions, including Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, IRCCS Policlinico Gemelli, Kobe University, and Peking University. Co-cited references were mainly published after 2022, indicating a recently formed and rapidly evolving knowledge base. Keyword analyses showed that current research is centered on robotic surgery, radical prostatectomy, prostate cancer, outcomes, complications, Hugo RAS, learning curve, and partial nephrectomy. The evidence structure was uneven across procedures: robot-assisted radical prostatectomy represented the most mature application area, whereas partial nephrectomy, cystectomy, adrenalectomy, pyeloplasty, and reconstructive procedures remained largely supported by feasibility studies or early clinical cohorts. Emerging topics such as artificial intelligence, telesurgery, and virtual reality appeared as niche themes, suggesting future directions for digitally integrated robotic surgery. Overall, research on emerging robotic platforms in urology is transitioning from early feasibility reporting toward outcome assessment and platform-specific comparison, but multicenter validation, long-term follow-up, learning-curve assessment, and cost-effectiveness evidence remain insufficient.