Research on Traumatic Knee Osteoarthritis: A Bibliometric and Visualized Study

This investigation employs advanced bibliometric visualization techniques to elucidate key research foci and emerging trends in post-traumatic knee osteoarthritis (PTOA) while analyzing global research patterns. Using the Web of Science Core Collection (Science Citation Index-Expanded), we systematically extracted scholarly publications on PTOA from January 1, 1900, to April 16, 2025. Through rigorous bibliometric analysis and systematic indexing of source data, we implemented VOSviewer (v1.6.20) to conduct multidimensional assessments including collaborative network mapping,term co-occurrence analysis, bibliographic coupling, and citation network evaluation. Our comprehensive analysis of 1,488 peer-reviewed articles revealed consistent annual growth in global PTOA research output. The United States emerged as the dominant contributor, demonstrating the highest publication volume, citation counts, and h-index values. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage and Journal of Orthopaedic Research were identified as the most prolific journals, while four institutions—Harvard University, Lund University, the University of Calgary, and the Hospital for Special Surgery—stood out as leading research centers. Three primary research domains were identified:mechanistic studies, clinical investigations, and tissue regeneration research. Projections indicate that clinical translational research, particularly studies on total joint arthroplasty for PTOA management, will dominate future research directions. These findings establish the United States as the field's primary knowledge producer while highlighting clinical applications as the next research frontier in PTOA therapeutics.