Mapping Research in Joint Preserving Procedures of Osteonecrosis of the Femoral Head: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract Background: There have been increased interests in the joint preserving procedures of osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH). This study aims to present a bibliometric analysis of the publications of this field during this period (1999–2019).Method: Publications related to joint preserving procedures of ONFH were searched from the Science Citation Index-Expanded Web of Science. The data were analyzed by using bibliometric methodology. Additionally, the work made a graphical mapping by using the VOS viewer software. This was used for bibliographic coupling, co-authorship, co-citation, co-occurrence analysis and to investigate the publication trends in this field.Results: A total of 3467 articles were included. The number of publications were increasing globally every year. China made the most publications. But the USA made the highest contributions to the global research with the most citations and the highest H-index. CLINICAL ORTHOPAEDICS AND RELATED RESEARCH had the highest publication number. Studies could be classified into four clusters: process and clinical treatment, risk factors and diagnosis, pathophysiology, and basic research. Pathophysiology and basic research were predicted as the next hot topics in joint preserving procedures of ONFH.Conclusion: Base on the current global trends, it has been growing in a number of publications of joint preserving procedures of ONFH since 1999. The USA was the leading country in global research in this field. Pathophysiology and basic research may be the next hot spots, which need more attention in the future.