Research landscape, hotspots, and evolutionary trends of knee osteoarthritis and oxidative stress: a multidimensional bibliometric analysis.

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the research status, hotspots, and development trends in the field of KOA and oxidative stress using a multidimensional bibliometric approach. Literature related to KOA and oxidative stress was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and RStudio were employed to analyze publication volume, scientific collaboration networks, keyword co-occurrence, clustering, and the characteristics of hotspot shifts, with the goal of revealing the overall research landscape of KOA and oxidative stress. Research volume on KOA and oxidative stress has entered a phase of rapid expansion, peaking in 2024. While China leads in total publication output, its relatively low centrality (0.06) combined with a low global institutional network density (0.0061) reveals a "high-output, low-integration" pattern, indicating significant potential for enhanced international synergy. Key knowledge hubs are centered around institutions like Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine and Universidade da Coruña, with leading scholars such as Blanco FJ and Li J driving the field's intellectual core. Keyword clustering identifies a three-dimensional thematic landscape: nutritional intervention (e.g., vitamin E), mechanistic exploration (e.g., cell senescence), and therapeutic investigation (e.g., ozone). The research evolution follows a clear trajectory of "foundational validation → mechanistic refinement → translational expansion," with current frontiers shifting from localized joint mechanisms toward systemic-local interactions. The field of KOA and oxidative stress is characterized by an internationally collaborative yet resource-fragmented research landscape. Its evolution follows a logic of initial foundational validation, followed by mechanistic refinement, and finally translational expansion. Future efforts should strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration and promote multicenter clinical translational research, which holds promise for developing more targeted and effective novel strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of KOA.