Global landscape and knowledge structure in sclerotherapy for lower limb varicose veins: a bibliometric analysis of trends in treatment paradigms

This study conducted a bibliometric analysis to outline the publication landscape, identify key contributors, and map the evolution, interactions, and future directions of the therapeutic paradigms for sclerotherapy, an established primary treatment for lower limb varicose veins. This bibliometric study utilized data from the Web of Science Core Collection, analyzed with VOSviewer, the R package bibliometrix, and CiteSpace. High-frequency keywords were manually categorized into three thematic groups: Comprehensive Therapy; Perioperative Management & Outcomes and Minimally Invasive Therapy. Annual group intensity was calculated to track the evolving research focus on these therapeutic paradigms. A total of 352 publications were included. The USA was the leading nation in research contributions, with institutions such as the University of Birmingham and University of California System at the forefront. Key journals, including Phlebology and the European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery , were pivotal in disseminating knowledge. Influential authors such as Bradbury A. W., Bate G. R. and Darvall K. A. L. significantly shaped the research landscape. Keyword cluster analysis identified six distinct thematic groups, focusing on patient-centered outcomes, complication management and evidence-based guidelines. Burst analysis highlighted “high ligation”, “randomized clinical trial” and “endovenous laser ablation”. Under the proposed keyword taxonomy, the relative distribution of the three thematic paradigms showed an apparent tendency toward greater balance after 2020. This bibliometric study maps the evolution and current frontiers of lower limb varicose vein sclerotherapy research. These findings suggest that future research may further examine combination strategies, individualized risk-stratified protocols, and interdisciplinary collaboration in the management of lower limb varicose vein sclerotherapy.