The Application of Acupuncture Therapy for Postoperative Pain Over the Past 20 Years: A Bibliometric Analysis

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze and visualize the research trends on acupuncture therapy for postoperative pain over the past 20 years to identify hotspots and frontiers, and provide new research ideas.

Methods

A search of the Web of Science database, with a time frame of 2001–01-01 to 2022–02-28, was conducted to collect literatures related to acupuncture therapy for postoperative pain. A bibliometric analysis and visualization of results was performed using CiteSpace software for the volume of annual publications, journals, countries, institutions, authors, keywords, and references.

Results

A total of 840 literatures were eventually included in the analysis. The number of publications has fluctuated upwards each year over the past 20 years and reached a peak in the latest three years. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine was the journal with the most relevant publications and Pain was the most frequently cited journal. The country with the highest volume of publications was China, and the USA contributed most to the international collaboration. The most prolific and influential authors were Inhyunk Ha and Han JS respectively. The most frequent keyword was “acupuncture”. References with highest frequency or centrality were both systematic evaluations focusing on different acupuncture therapies for postoperative pain relief.

Conclusion

The field of acupuncture therapy for postoperative pain is currently in a period of high growth. China and the USA have made the largest contribution to the volume of publications. The most influential institutions and authors are mainly from China and South Korea. The overall collaborative network needs to be strengthened. Electroacupuncture and auricular acupuncture (therapeutic techniques), low back surgery (types of surgery), and “postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting” are research hotspots in this field. Improvement of postoperative life quality, proof of clinical efficacy and evidence-based evaluation are the current research trends and frontiers.

Keywords:

• acupuncture analgesia
• pain after surgery
• bibliometric analysis
• CiteSpace

Abbreviations

NSAIDs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; RCT, randomized controlled trial; WoS, Web of Science; IF, impact factor; TENS, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation; TEAS, transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation.

Data Sharing Statement

The raw data of this article was collected from the online database WoS, which can be obtained directly by logging in or contacting the authors.

Ethics Approval and Informed Consent

This study did not contain any human or animal test subjects. Thus, the requirement for ethics approval was waived.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their appreciation to Prof. Chaomei Chen for developing CiteSpace and opening its access.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors report no potential conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U21A20404); the Innovation Team and Talents Cultivation Program of National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ZYYCXTD-D-202003).