Research hotspots and emerging trends of macrophages in peripheral nerve injury: a bibliometric and visualization analysis

Objective Peripheral nerve injury (PNI) remains a significant clinical challenge due to its poor neurological recovery. Macrophages serve as key regulators in pathological degeneration, inflammatory resolution, and regenerative repair after PNI. This study aims to explore the global status, research hotspots, and developmental trends of macrophage-related studies in PNI through bibliometric analysis. It further aimed to identify emerging research frontiers and existing knowledge gaps, thereby providing insights into optimized PNI repair strategies. Methods Literature related to PNI and macrophages published from January 1, 2006, to March 31, 2026, was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus databases. After literature screening, deduplication, and data standardization, VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and Bibliometrix were used to perform bibliometric analysis and visualization of countries, institutions, authors, journals, keywords, and citations. Results A total of 694 publications were included. The annual publication output showed a continuous upward trend, with a marked increase after 2017 and a peak of 76 publications in 2025. A total of 50 countries contributed to this field. China had the highest number of publications, whereas the United States had the highest total number of citations. Nantong University was the most productive institution, and Kiguchi, Norikazu and Kishioka, Shiroh were the most productive authors. Journal of Neuroinflammation was the leading journal in this field. Macrophage polarization, Wallerian degeneration, neuropathic pain, macrophage–Schwann cell interactions, immunomodulation, and inflammatory microenvironment remodeling were the long-standing core hotspots in this field. In recent years, subcellular injury and neural excitability mechanisms, including apoptosis and efferocytosis, mitochondrial dysfunction, and ion channels, have received increasing attention. Tissue engineering and biotherapeutic strategies, such as nerve conduits, mesenchymal stem cells, exosomes, and drug delivery, have become emerging research directions. Moreover, the application of transcriptomics and single-cell RNA sequencing has further advanced the in-depth analysis of macrophage heterogeneity and molecular regulatory mechanisms. Conclusion This study revealed the hotspots and trends of macrophage research in PNI over the past two decades. Research foci have expanded from basic pathological mechanisms to neuroimmune regulation and regenerative strategies. Combined omics and bioinformatics will help elucidate macrophage regulatory networks and advance precise interventions for PNI.