BACKGROUND: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive technique increasingly utilized in the treatment of musculoskeletal pain, particularly when pharmacological or rehabilitative approaches prove insufficient. However, the thematic evolution and research development of RFA over the past 2 decades have not been explored adequately.
OBJECTIVE: To conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the global literature on RFA for musculoskeletal pain, identifying publication trends, research focuses, leading contributors, and thematic transitions between 2000 and 2024.
STUDY DESIGN: Bibliometric analysis.
SETTING: Data were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC).
METHODS: A total of 736 English-language articles published between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2024, were included. Bibliometric tools such as VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Biblioshiny were used to analyze annual publication trends, co-authorship networks, country/institutional productivity, keyword co-occurrences, co-citation patterns, and citation bursts.
RESULTS: A marked increase in publication volume was observed after 2010, with the peak occurring in 2023. The United States led in both publication output and international collaboration. The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, and University of Utah were among the most productive institutions. Steven P. Cohen and Laxmaiah Manchikanti emerged as the most influential authors, centrally positioned within international co-authorship networks. Meanwhile, Pain Physician, Pain Medicine, and Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine were identified as the journals that exerted the greatest impact. Co-citation analysis revealed a thematic shift from early spinal facet interventions and diagnostic blocks toward peripheral applications, especially genicular nerve ablation, and consensus-based clinical practices. Keyword co-occurrence and citation burst analyses identified 3 chronological research themes: firstly, early spinal interventions (2000-2010), secondly, the diagnostic standardization era (2010-2017), and thirdly, expansion into peripheral, imaging-guided, and multidisciplinary applications (2017-2024).
LIMITATIONS: The analysis was limited to English-language articles indexed in the WoSCC. Conference proceedings, book chapters, and articles from other databases were excluded. Therefore, some relevant studies might not have been captured.
CONCLUSION: This bibliometric analysis demonstrates a steady growth in RFA-related publications globally. While spinal interventions remain the primary focus, an interest in peripheral applications has seen a notable increase. The expansion of RFA reflects both technological advancements and evolving clinical demands. Future studies should focus on long-term outcomes, clinical adoption, and the evidence-based optimization of treatment algorithms across spinal and peripheral indications.
