Global research trends and hotspots analysis of hallux valgus: A bibliometric analysis from 2004 to 2021

BACKGROUND: Hallux valgus (HV) is a common foot and ankle surgery disease. The correction of HV deformity relies on a highly challenging surgical treatment. Thus, widely adopted evidence-based clinical guidelines are still needed to guide the selection of the most appropriate interventions. Recently, the study of HV has been growing and scholars are increasingly paying particular attention to this area. However, bibliometric literature remains lacking. Therefore, this study aims to reveal the hotspots and future research trends in HV via bibliometric analysis to fill this knowledge gap. METHODS: Literature related to HV from 2004 to 2021 was retrieved from the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-expanded) of the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC). Quantitative and qualitative analyses of scientific data are performed using software such as CiteSpace, R-bibliometrix, and VOSviewer. RESULTS: A total of 1,904 records were identified for analysis. The United States had the most number of published articles and total citations. Thus, the United States has made an essential contribution to the field of HV. Meanwhile, La Trobe University in Australia was the most productive institution. Menz HB and Foot & Ankle International were the most influential authors and the most popular journals among researchers, respectively. In addition, “older people,” “chevron osteotomy,” “Lapidus,” and “hallux rigidus” have always been the hotspots of attention. Changes and developments in the surgery of HV have gained researchers' interest. Future research trends are more focused on “radiographic measurement,” “recurrence,” “outcome,” “rotation,” “pronation,” and “minimally invasive surgery.” Thus, focusing on these subject directions can facilitate academic progress and provide the possibility of better treatments for HV. CONCLUSION: This study summarizes the hotspots and trends in the field of HV from 2004 to 2021, which will provide researchers with an updated view of essential information and somehow guide future research.