Neuroimaging in traumatic brain injury: a bibliometric analysis

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), commonly referred to as concussion, accounts for the vast majority of TBI cases globally, yet remains challenging to define and manage due to its heterogeneous presentation and often subtle clinical and radiographic findings. This bibliometric review aims to characterize the global research landscape on TBI, identifying trends, prolific contributors, and key thematic areas in the literature. A bibliometric analysis was conducted using a structured search of the Web of Science Core Collection to identify publications focused on neuroimaging and traumatic brain injury. Data were analyzed using VOSviewer to map co-authorship networks, keyword co-occurrence, and citation patterns over the past decade. The analysis revealed a steady increase in publications related to TBI, with prominent contributions from institutions in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Common research themes included sports-related concussion, military blast injuries, pediatric TBI, neurocognitive outcomes, and return-to-play protocols. Despite the high volume of research, heterogeneity in diagnostic terminology and outcome measures remains prevalent. This bibliometric review highlights the growing scholarly attention to TBI while emphasizing the need for standardization in diagnostic criteria and outcome assessment. Future research should prioritize consensus-building and longitudinal cohort studies to address persistent gaps in knowledge and improve patient care.