Elbow Arthroscopy: Where are We Today? A Bibliometric Analysis

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Elbow arthroscopy is a critical procedure for the treatment of elbow disorders, largely due to advancements in arthroscopic technology.While the field has seen significant growth, no comprehensive bibliometric analysis has been conducted to map research trends, key contributions, and gaps in this area.This study aimed to fill this gap by conducting a bibliometric analysis of articles published on elbow arthroscopy between 1986 and 2023, with the goal of understanding the evolution of the field, identifying influential research, and guiding future studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS:Articles on elbow arthroscopy published between 1986 and 2023 from the Web of Science database were retrieved and subjected to bibliometric scrutiny.After an initial retrieval of 343 articles, we excluded irrelevant categories and focused on the 312 studies that were most relevant to the field.Using VOSviewer software, bibliometric network visualizations and specific result mappings were conducted.Citation analysis was employed to discern prominent journals and articles, while keyword clustering and trend analyses were performed to investigate the thematic landscape of the research. RESULTS:Our analysis of 312 articles on elbow arthroscopy published between 1986 and 2023 revealed a significant increase in the number of publications after 2006.The majority of these publications (82.5%) were original research articles.The average citation count per article was 13.14, with an H-index of 36.The most frequently used keywords were "elbow" and "arthroscopy," with "Complications of Elbow Arthroscopy" being the most cited study.Prominent journals such as "Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic & Related Surgery" and influential authors like "Van Den Bekeron MPJ" and "O'Driscoll SW" were identified.Additionally, the United States was found to be the leading contributor in this field. CONCLUSION:This study offers insights into the evolution and trends of elbow arthroscopy research.The findings serve as a valuable resource for guiding future investigations in this field, while the keyword analysis provides a roadmap for researchers in formulating new studies.