Table 1_Joint fibrosis research from a multi-joint perspective: a bibliometric analysis, 2000–2025.docx

It can affect multiple joints and cause pain, restricted motion, and functional impairment. Existing research has largely focused on specific joints or surgical procedures, and the overall research landscape and literature distribution across joints have not been systematically characterized.</p>Methods<p>Scopus and the Web of Science Core Collection were searched using a strategy that combined a fibrosis-specific concept module with a joint anatomy module.

After restriction, merging, and deduplication, 1,600 English-language articles and reviews were included. Bibliometric analyses were performed in R using bibliometrix, Biblioshiny, and ggplot2.</p>Results<p>Publication output on joint fibrosis increased overall from 2000 to 2025, with an annual growth rate of 9.81%; annual publications rose from 19 in 2000 to 197 in 2025. Author keywords centered on arthrofibrosis and were closely associated with total knee arthroplasty, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, joint stiffness, postoperative complications, and functional recovery.