A bibliometric analysis and visualization of research trends on femoroacetabular impingement syndrome

ABSTRACT Femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) profoundly impacts patients’ quality of life. With the increasing popularity of sports and advancements in medical technology, the number of diagnosed cases has risen significantly, making it a challenging clinical issue. Hip arthroscopy is currently the primary surgical approach. Over the past few decades, a substantial body of research literature has emerged. This study aimed to systematically summarize the developmental trajectory and research focus in this field to explore future research directions. The research data were obtained from the Web of Science Core Collection, covering FAIS-related publications from 2014 to 2023. Bibliometric analysis and visualization were conducted using bibliometric methods, VOSviewer, and bibliometric software packages. A total of 3020 FAIS-related publications were identified. The USA and the American Hip Institute were the most prolific contributors at the national and institutional levels, respectively. Benjamin Domb and Shane J. Nho were the most influential researchers. In 2016, Damian R. Griffin from the University of Warwick published the most cited article in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. ‘Hip arthroscopy’ and ‘alpha angle’ were the primary research focuses, while ‘labral reconstruction’, ‘survivorship’, and ‘return’ emerged as the three key terms in trending research topics.