Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis research over the past 15 years: A bibliometric analysis of hotspots and emerging trends

PURPOSE: To map the knowledge structure of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) research from 2010 to 2024 and to identify emerging trends that are reshaping measurement, risk stratification, and intervention paradigms. METHODS: Publications and reviews were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (downloaded April 27, 2025). We quantified output and impact (citations, citations per publication, H-index) and visualized collaboration and intellectual structure using CiteSpace and Bibliometric.com. Networks were interpreted using centrality (bridging influence), co-citation clustering (knowledge base), and keyword burst/cluster analyses (emerging trends). RESULTS: A total of 4924 records were included, with accelerated growth after 2017 and peak output in 2024. The USA led in impact and network connectivity, while China showed rapid expansion in volume with lower per-paper influence. Co-citation mapping revealed a transition from instrumentation- and mechanism-oriented foundations toward contemporary fronts in conservative management, growth modulation, genetic susceptibility, and data-driven assessment. Keyword bursts highlighted recent momentum in gene expression, intraoperative navigation, and machine learning, consistent with a broader shift toward precision-oriented and less invasive, decision-supportive care pathways. CONCLUSION: Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis research is undergoing a measurable thematic transition, in which emerging trends increasingly concentrate on quantification, prediction, and individualized management. These findings provide a field-level framework to prioritize multicenter collaboration, standardize outcomes, and accelerate translational evaluation of artificial intelligence-enabled assessment and risk models.