Research hotspots and dynamic trends in sacral neuromodulation for pelvic floor dysfunction: a comprehensive bibliometric analysis

Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) includes urinary and bowel dysfunction, chronic pelvic pain, and sexual dysfunction and can substantially impair quality of life. Sacral neuromodulation (SNM) is uesd for selected refractory urinary and bowel disorders, while evidence for other PFD domains continues to develop. We aimed to characterize publication patterns, contributors, collaboration networks, co-citation structures, and keyword trends in the literature on SNM for PFD. Publications on SNM for PFD from January 2000 to November 2025 were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Bibliometric and visual analyses were conducted using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and R software to evaluate temporal trends, geographic and institutional distributions, journal and author productivity, reference co-citation networks, and keyword dynamics. A total of 1986 publications (1520 original articles and 466 reviews) were included. Annual publication output increased overall during the study period, with year-to-year fluctuations. The United States (n = 681), the United Kingdom (n = 276), the Netherlands (n = 135), and China (n = 125) contributed the largest numbers of publications. Neurourology and Urodynamics, Colorectal Disease, and Diseases of the Colon & Rectum were the most productive journals. The strongest reference bursts were observed for Wexner SD (2010; strength 32.91), Matzel KE (2017; strength 30.40), and Lightner DJ (2019; strength 30.19). Keyword analyses were dominated by sacral neuromodulation, sacral nerve stimulation, fecal incontinence, efficacy, and quality of life; keywords with bursts continuing through 2025 included percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation, overactive bladder, and urgency urinary incontinence. This bibliometric analysis maps publication growth, major contributors, collaboration patterns, co-citation structures, and keyword themes in the literature on SNM for PFD. Urinary and bowel dysfunction were the most prominent research themes, whereas chronic pelvic pain and sexual dysfunction were less represented in the keyword analyses. By identifying major thematic concentrations, patterns of scientific collaboration, and comparatively underrepresented topics, these findings may support hypothesis generation, prioritization of future studies on SNM across different PFD domains, and stronger international and interdisciplinary collaboration.