Research trends, hotspots, and thematic evolution in scoliosis and osteoporosis: a bibliometric mapping review

Research on scoliosis and osteoporosis has increased steadily, but the research landscape and thematic evolution of this field remain incompletely characterized. This study aimed to provide a bibliometric mapping review of publication trends, collaboration patterns, research hotspots, and emerging directions in this interdisciplinary area.

A bibliometric mapping review of published literature was conducted using the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) and Scopus. Relevant publications published between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2025, were identified. Bibliometrix, CiteSpace, and VOSviewer were used to analyze collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence, burst references, and thematic evolution.

A total of 1,289 records were identified, and 1,013 publications were included after deduplication, including 810 articles and 203 reviews. Annual publication output increased steadily from 2006 to 2025, with an R² of 0.97 in the merged dataset, whereas mean total citations per article showed an overall downward trend. The United States and China were the leading contributing countries/regions, and the University of California was the most productive institution. European Spine Journal and Spine were the leading source journals. Keyword and thematic analyses highlighted adult spinal deformity, spine surgery, bone quality assessment, and mechanical complications as major recent topics.

Research on scoliosis and osteoporosis has expanded substantially over the past 2 decades and has become an increasingly multidisciplinary field led primarily by the United States and China. The field has shifted toward bone quality assessment, risk stratification, complication prediction, and comprehensive management.