Rise of Asian research in orthopaedic and sports medicine: a bibliometric analysis from 1996 to 2022

Objectives: This study examines the growth and impact of orthopaedic and sports medicine (OSM) publications across 30 Asian countries from 1996 to 2022 using a bibliometric (scientometric) approach. Despite Asia’s rising academic achievements, prior studies have not comprehensively mapped publication trends in this field across the region. This analysis aims to perform bibliometric analysis in OSM research in the Asian Countries. Methods: Publication data were sourced from the SCImago Journal & Country Rank portal, derived from the SCOPUS database, covering the period from 1996 to 2022, with updates available until April 2023. The analysis focused on the top Asian countries and included key indicators such as H-index and total citations to assess research impact. Results: The study identified a substantial rise in OSM publications from Asia, with total output increasing 14.27-fold—compared to a 5.54-fold increase globally. Between 1996 and 2022, 111,342 OSM publications originated from Asian countries, out of 666,847 globally. However, citation counts for Asian research declined from 26,263 in 1996 to 6020 in 2022, likely reflecting the time-lag effect in citation accumulation for recent publications. Possible contributing factors are discussed. Conclusion: This study highlights a remarkable surge in orthopaedic and sports medicine publications from Asia, surpassing global growth trends. While citation metrics appear lower in recent years—likely due to the recency of publications—the overall trend suggests a strong and growing research in Asia. China and Japan lead in output and impact, respectively, while India’s rapid rise reflects increasing academic potential. However, enhancing research quality and visibility and reducing self-citation are essential to elevate global impact. Countries like Hong Kong, Singapore, and Sri Lanka demonstrate high citation efficiency. With optimal collaboration and strategic investment, Asian countries are well positioned to play a leading role in global orthopaedic research.