2022, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (18): 2906-2913

Visualization analysis of bone defect treatment based on knowledge map

Dong Jiale1, Wei Yuanhao1, Zhang Hongwu2   

Abstract: BACKGROUND: As a common disease of the motor system, bone defect is of great significance to be treated by effective means. However, there is still a lack of literature review on the treatment of bone defect by bibliometrics in China.   
OBJECTIVE: To analyze the literature on the treatment of bone defect published in recent 10 years and to explore the research status, hotspots, and trends in this field, and to provide opinions and suggestions for its future development.
METHODS:   Using Web of Science Core Collection database as the data source and the application of bibliometrics, CiteSpace V software was used to draw the knowledge map and conduct cluster analysis of the annual trends, the distribution of nations, the distribution of research institution, the distribution of authors and the key words in the field of bone defect treatment from 2011 to 2020.   
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: A total of 1 743 valid articles were selected. (1) The volume of publications shows a steady rise from 2011 to 2020 in general. In terms of scientific research funds, the National Natural Science Foundation of China funded the most projects (23.81%). (2) China and Shanghai Jiao Tong University are the country and research institution with the most publications in this field respectively. USA and Chinese Academy of Sciences play the role of academic hub with the strongest centrality. (3) A total of 476 authors were included. Lei Zhang, Changsheng Liu, and Ana Claudia Muniz Renno were the most prolific researchers, but the core authors did not form a close cooperative relationship. (4) Biomaterials is the journal with the largest number of articles, and has an authoritative position in the field of biological materials. (5) Repair, regeneration, in vitro, scaffold, and mesenchymal stem cell are the research hotspots in this field. (6) Time zone analysis showed that the previous research strategies were mainly for inducing differentiation and promoting regeneration of bone defects. Since 2015, nanoparticles, hydrogels and other materials are gradually widely used in the treatment of bone defects with the help of 3D printing technology. In recent years, researchers hope to explore the mechanism of bone defect treatment at the level of signaling pathway, and hope to use new composite scaffolds combined with drug/growth factor controlled release technology to achieve better therapeutic effect. (7) The future development directions of bone defect treatment are as follows: Continue to prepare new nano-composite scaffolds with good mechanical properties by using 3D printing and other technologies; preparation of double/multiple controlled release drug and/or growth factor stents; repair large bone defects, especially those caused by cancer, while inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress and other reactions; to explore the mechanism of various growth factors in bone defect repair at the signaling pathway level; basic and clinical research on osteoporosis treatment drugs. It is concluded that bone defect treatment has been paid more and more attention in recent ten years. China has played an important role in this field. The results of this study provide a new perspective for the future research in this field, and play an enlightening role for domestic researchers.
Key words: bone defect, Citespace, knowledge map, visualization analysis, nanocomposite, composite scaffold, 3D-printing technology