Research on traumatic orthopedic surgery robots: a decade bibliometric analysis of research landscapes and evolving frontiers.

Abstract

This study employed bibliometric analysis to identify research hotspots and emerging trends in orthopedic trauma surgery robotics. Relevant literature from 2015 to 2025 was sourced from the Web of Science Core Collection (WOSCC) database, and bibliometric and visualization analyses were conducted using VOS viewer, Cite Space, and the Bibliometrix R-package. Overall, the annual publication volume in this field has shown consistent growth. The United States, China, and Italy lead in publication output. Research is primarily concentrated in universities and hospitals, with Shanghai Jiao Tong University, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Yonsei University being the top three contributing institutions. Wang Y is the most prolific author. Active researchers in this domain have established several stable collaborative teams, though inter-team cooperation requires further strengthening. "Surgical Endoscopy and Other Interventional Techniques" is the leading journal in terms of publications and citations within this area. Key terms currently driving research include surgery, minimally invasive surgery, robotic surgery, and outcomes. Robot-assisted fracture reduction and fixation represent prominent research hotspots. The integration of innovative technologies to enhance the effectiveness and functionality of orthopedic trauma robots, along with fostering high-quality multidisciplinary studies to facilitate clinical advancements, may define the future direction of this field.