Meta-analysis in periprosthetic joint infection: a global bibliometric analysis

• Published in: Journal of orthopaedic surgery and research Vol. 15; no. 1; pp. 251 - 20
• Main Authors: Li, Cheng, Ojeda-Thies, Christina, Xu, Chi, Trampuz, Andrej
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 10.07.2020; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Algorithms; Analysis; Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage; Antibiotics; Arthritis, Infectious - diagnosis; Arthritis, Infectious - etiology; Arthritis, Infectious - prevention & control; Arthroplasty; Arthroplasty, Replacement - adverse effects; Bibliometrics; Clinical medicine; Comorbidity; Databases, Bibliographic; Decubitus ulcer; Exports; Female; Glucocorticoids - administration & dosage; Health aspects; Hip; Hip Joint - surgery; Humans; Impact factors; Infection; Infections; Injections, Intra-Articular; Joint diseases; Joint Prosthesis - adverse effects; Joint replacement; Joint surgery; Keywords; Knee; Knee Joint - surgery; Male; Medical research; Medical Subject Headings-MeSH; Meta-analysis; Methods; Online searching; Orthopedics; Periprosthetic joint infection; Postoperative Complications - diagnosis; Postoperative Complications - etiology; Postoperative Complications - prevention & control; Prostheses; Prosthesis-Related Infections - diagnosis; Prosthesis-Related Infections - etiology; Prosthesis-Related Infections - prevention & control; Risk Factors; Science; Software; Statistical analysis; Surgery; Surgical site infections; Thrombosis; United States > US; China; Arthroplasty; Periprosthetic joint infection; Research; Surgical site infections; Bibliometrics; Meta-analysis
• ISSN: 1749-799X; 1749-799X
• DOI: 10.1186/s13018-020-01757-9

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is the most serious complication of joint replacement surgery. Further comorbidities include bedsore, deep vein thrombosis, reinfection, or even death. An increasing number of researchers are focusing on this challenging complication. The aim of the present study was to estimate global PJI research based on bibliometrics from meta-analysis studies. A database search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Relevant studies were assessed using the bibliometric analysis. A total of 117 articles were included. The most relevant literature on PJI was found on Scopus. China made the highest contributions to global research, followed by the USA and the UK. The institution with the most contributions was the University of Bristol. The journal with the highest number of publications was The Journal of Arthroplasty, whereas the Journal of Clinical Medicine had the shortest acceptance time. Furthermore, the top three frequently used databases were Embase, MEDLINE, and Cochrane. The most frequent number of authors in meta-analysis studies was four. Most studies focused on the periprosthetic hip and knee. The alpha-defensin diagnostic test, preventive measures on antibiotics use, and risk factors of intra-articular steroid injections were the most popular topic in recent years. Based on the results of the present study, we found that there was no single database that covered all relevant articles; the optimal method for bibliometric analysis is a combination of databases. The most popular research topics on PJI focused on alpha-defensin, antibiotic use, risk factors of intra-articular steroid injections, and the location of prosthetic hip and knee infection.