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Updated: Sep 26, 2026
Systems Analysis of the Neuroinflammatory and Hemodynamic Response to Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: May 27, 2022
Mapping neuroimaging research related to post-traumatic headache after traumatic brain injury: a multi-database
Ruiting Zhu1,2,3, Lu Zhang3, Xingpu Quan3
1School of Future Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
Background:
Post-traumatic headache (PTH) is one of the most common and disabling sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI). Neuroimaging has been increasingly used to evaluate acute injury, identify structural and functional abnormalities, and explore the mechanisms underlying persistent headache after TBI. However, the global development and research trends in this field remain unclear. This study aimed to map the knowledge structure and emerging trends of neuroimaging research related to PTH after TBI.
Methods:
A comprehensive literature search was conducted in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC), Scopus, and PubMed from database inception to December 31, 2025. WoSCC and Scopus were used as the principal bibliometric dataset, while PubMed was used for supplementary validation. Bibliometrix, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace were used to analyze publication trends, countries, institutions, journals, authors, cited references, keyword co-occurrence, thematic evolution, and trend topics.
Results:
After merging WoSCC and Scopus records, 2,519 documents from 938 sources were included in the main analysis, and 539 PubMed records were used for supplementary validation. Annual publication output showed an overall upward trend over the study period. The United States and Harvard University were the most productive country and institution, respectively, whereas the Journal of Neurotrauma and Schwedt TJ showed the highest source and author influence. Within the broader literature encompassed by this search, highly cited publications included studies on CT-based acute brain injury assessment, pediatric risk stratification, PTH diagnostic classification, and post-concussion symptoms. Keyword and thematic analyses revealed a gradual transition from acute imaging evaluation toward advanced neuroimaging, outcome assessment, prognosis, and rehabilitation.
Conclusion:
Within this broad interdisciplinary multi-database bibliometric dataset linking TBI, PTH and neuroimaging, we identified a long-standing foundation in acute TBI imaging and related symptom assessment, alongside an increasingly visible research trajectory focused on advanced neuroimaging of persistent symptoms, mechanisms, prognosis, and rehabilitation-oriented management.
