Rongji Zhang, Li Han, Ji Shi, Meng Xiangyue, Jianzheng Zhang
This bibliometric study analyzed the fields of limb replantation and transplantation to characterize international research trends over the past 25 years. Data were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection, and 780 articles published between January 2001 and July 2025 were evaluated. Bibliometric tools, including VOSviewer, bibliometrix, and CiteSpace, were used to examine publication outputs, journals, authors, institutions, countries, references, keywords, and thematic maps, as well as to construct co-authorship, co-occurrence, and co-citation networks. The annual number of publications demonstrated a fluctuating but upward trend, peaking in 2020. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery was the most productive and influential journal, while the United States, the University of Michigan, and Kevin C. Chung ranked highest among the contributing countries, institutions, and authors, respectively. Keyword analysis identified five major clusters: vascular reconstruction techniques, anastomosis techniques, replantation survival, complications and management in limb transplantation, tissue defect repair, and functional recovery after limb salvage. These clusters highlight both the foundations and the emerging frontiers of the field. These findings suggest that vascular reconstruction and tissue repair remain central components, while complication management and technical optimization of anastomosis represent key ongoing trends. Research on functional recovery emphasizes long-term prognosis and quality of life, and future directions may be guided by advances in tissue engineering, immunomodulation, and interdisciplinary collaborations.