A bibliometric analysis of published research employing musculoskeletal imaging modalities to evaluate foot osteoarthritis

Abstract

Temporal and global changes in research utilising imaging to assess foot osteoarthritis (OA) is currently unknown. This study aimed to undertake a bibliometric analysis of published research to: (1) identify the imaging modalities that have been used to evaluate foot OA; (2) explore the temporal changes and global differences in the use of these imaging modalities; and (3) to evaluate performance related to publication- and citation-based metrics. An electronic search was designed and conducted using the Scopus database in August 2021. Studies were included if they used imaging to assess the foot in patients with foot OA, for recruitment or as a research outcome. The techniques for bibliometric analysis manifest across two categories: (1) performance analysis and (2) science mapping [1]. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise the study characteristics and data related to each imaging modality. Linear regression models were used to analyse temporal trends in the use of each imaging modality over time. 158 studies were identified between 1980 and 2021. Plain radiography was the most widely used modality, followed by computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging, respectively. The number of published studies increased over time for each imaging modality (all P>0.018). The most productive country was the United States of America, followed by the United Kingdom and Australia. International authorship collaboration was evident in 57 studies (36.1%). The average citation rate was 23.4 per study, with an average annual citation rate of 2.1. Published research employing imaging to assess foot OA has increased substantially over the past four decades. Although plain radiography remains the gold standard modality, the emergence of magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound imaging in the past two decades continues to advance knowledge and progress research in this field.