Bibliometric analysis of C7 nerve transfer surgery

C7 nerve transfer surgery aims to bridge neural gaps and promote functional recovery in patients with central nervous system (CNS) injuries. The surgery involves transferring the C7 nerve root from the healthy side to the affected side, promoting neural plasticity and reconstructing motor control. Research on C7 nerve transfer surgery is gradually coming into the public eye, with more innovations and applications in evidence-based research and biological mechanism studies in this field.

This is the first bibliometric analysis of C7 nerve transfer surgery. Relevant articles related to the field published between 1986 and 2023 were assessed, providing an emerging theoretical basis for future advances and developments. The literature source was the Web of Science Core Collection. The publication column, author details, affiliated institutions and countries, publication year, and keywords were recorded.

A total of 3,416 articles were included. The annual publications on C7 nerve transfer surgery fluctuated within a certain range. “BRAIN RESEARCH” is the journal with the most publications, and the “INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RADIATION ONCOLOGY BIOLOGY PHYSICS VOLUME” is the most influential journal. GU YD is the most prolific author, with 40 articles and the highest H-index (h ¼ 19). The top-ranking country and institution are the United States and the University of California System, producing 1,004 and 159 articles, respectively. Co-keyword cluster analysis indicates that the temporal research trends in C7 nerve transfer surgery are mainly focused on imaging examinations and long-term prognosis.

This study collected, visualized, and analyzed the literature in the field of C7 nerve transfer surgery over the past 47 years to map the development process and examine research frontiers, research hotspots, cutting-edge directions of clinical practice, and the therapeutic mechanisms underlying the operation.