GLOBAL RESEARCH TRENDS IN BILATERAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY: A SCOPUS-BASED BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE TOP-CITED PUBLICATIONS

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Kurt M., Çolak Y.

2nd International Health Sciences Congress , Mardin, Turkey, 14 - 17 May 2026, pp.653-654, (Full Text)

Abstract

Background/Aim: Bilateral knee arthroplasty is one of the most frequently performed orthopedic

surgical procedures worldwide, particularly in patients with advanced bilateral knee osteoarthritis.

Despite the growing volume of scientific literature in this field, no comprehensive bibliometric analysis

has systematically evaluated global research trends in bilateral knee arthroplasty. The aim of this study

was to identify the most influential publications and characterize research trends in bilateral knee

arthroplasty using a Scopus-based bibliometric approach.Materials and Methods: A systematic search of the Scopus database was performed using the

keywords "bilateral knee," "bilateral knee arthroplasty," and "bilateral total knee replacement." A total

of 3,018 publications were retrieved. The 100 most cited articles were selected for detailed bibliometric

analysis. Bibliometric variables including publication year, citation counts, authors, institutions,

countries, journals, and author keywords were extracted. Keyword co-occurrence analysis was

performed using VOSviewer software to identify major thematic clusters.Results: The most highly cited publications primarily addressed simultaneous versus staged bilateral

knee arthroplasty outcomes, venous thromboembolism prophylaxis, periprosthetic joint infection, and

blood management strategies. Keyword co-occurrence analysis identified three major research clusters:

(1) arthroplasty outcomes and implant survival, (2) osteoarthritis surgical management, and (3)

postoperative complication prevention. Annual publication trends demonstrated a marked increase in

research output after 2010. The United States was the leading contributor in terms of publication volume

and international collaboration. The Journal of Arthroplasty was the most productive journal in the field.

Among individual authors, Pritchett JW was the most productive contributor.Conclusion: This bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview of global research trends in

bilateral knee arthroplasty. The literature is predominantly driven by studies on surgical outcomes and

perioperative complication management. Emerging research hotspots include robotic-assisted surgery,

artificial intelligence-supported surgical planning, and patient-specific implant technologies.