Could nerve transplantation be the future of this field: a bibliometric analysis about lumbosacral plexus injury

Abstract

Background: Lumbosacral plexus injury is a highly distressing clinical issue with profound implications for patients’ quality of life. Since the publication of the first relevant study in 1953, there has been very limited progress in basic research and clinical treatment in this field, and the developmental trajectory and research priorities in this field have not been systematically summarized using scientific methods, leaving the future direction of this research to be explored. Methods: Utilizing publications from the Web of Science (WoS) database, our research employed bibliometric methodology to analyze the fundamental components of publications, synthesize research trends, and forecast future directions. Results: A total of 150 publications were included in our study, and the impressive advancement of research heat in this field can be attributed to the continuous increase in the number of papers, ranging from 14 papers in 2000 to 34 papers in 2023 over five years. Regarding the country, a central position in both quantity (H-index=125) and quality of publications (65 publications) is occupied by the United States, and close collaborations with other countries are observed. In terms of publication institutions, the highest number of publications (9 publications) is held by the Second Military Medical University. The journal with the most publications (5 publications) is the Journal of Trauma-Injury Infection and Critical Care. A pivotal role has been played by basic medical research in the development of this field. Concerning hotspots, the focus of the research core can be divided into three clusters (etiology, diagnosis and treatment; molecular, cells and mechanisms; physiology and pathology). Conclusion: This marks the inaugural bibliometric analysis of lumbosacral plexus injuries, offering a comprehensive overview of current publications. Our findings illuminate future research directions, international collaborations, and interdisciplinary relationships. Future research will emphasize clinical treatment and mechanism research, with a focus on sacral nerve stimulation and nerve transplantation.