Mapping the global landscape of robot-assisted hernia surgery research: a bibliometric analysis

To characterize the worldwide body of literature on robot-assisted hernia surgery through bibliometric and scientometric approaches, and to clarify its publication trajectory, influential contributors, collaborative structure, and evolving research priorities. The Web of Science Core Collection was queried in the SCIE and SSCI indexes for English-language articles and reviews published between 2005 and 2025. The search combined robot-related terms with hernia-related terms. After eligibility assessment, 1,402 records were retained. The dataset was exported on April 30, 2026. CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and R software were used to examine annual trends, country and institutional collaborations, author networks, keyword co-occurrence and clustering, reference co-citation patterns, and citation bursts. The final dataset comprised 1,402 publications and showed sustained growth in both output and citation impact, with a clear acceleration after 2016. The United States was the leading contributor, producing 773 publications and receiving 13,555 citations, followed by Italy, China, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Japan. The literature appeared in 56 journals, among which Surgical Endoscopy and Other Interventional Techniques had the largest contribution and the greatest citation impact. After institutional name harmonization, Cleveland Clinic was the most productive institution, and a limited group of authors accounted for a considerable share of the literature. Keyword-based analyses highlighted abdominal wall hernia, incisional hernia, and systematic review as central thematic areas. Co-citation and burst results suggested that the field has moved beyond early technical feasibility toward comparative outcomes and guideline-oriented evidence, while keyword-based findings showed early signals of attention to artificial intelligence (AI) and intelligent surgical platforms. Research on robot-assisted hernia surgery has increased markedly during the last two decades, accompanied by a gradual change in thematic emphasis. Scientific activity remains concentrated in several countries, institutions, and core author groups. At present, the literature is dominated by abdominal wall reconstruction and clinical outcome evaluation, while emerging keyword patterns point to early interest in AI-assisted technologies, technical refinement, and stronger clinical evidence.